By MIKE SULLIVAN
POLICE snatch squads are being used to target anarchist yobs at demonstrations.
Five-strong „Hornet“ units of plain-clothed riot squad officers have been set up to pounce on troublemakers at mass protests.
The move is designed to fend off criticism over previous police tactics during riots – including anger over their „kettling“ of crowds during the G20 demos in London in 2009. The newly-formed Hornet teams were used for the first time on Royal Wedding day when a man suspected of trying to inflame anti-Monarchists in Soho Square was held.
The squad were filmed dragging the suspect away as his pals protested. The units will be used again at the „Strike the Streets“ mass rally being organised by the TGW Union on June 30 against government cuts.The teams are equipped only with plastic handcuffs and are deployed by colleagues monitoring CCTV cameras at the Met’s control centre.
Uniformed officers in the area provide back-up as the Hornet teams move in. One source said: „We’ve used snatch squads in the past at events like the Notting Hill Carnival.
„But until the Royal Wedding they had never been used during mass demonstrations in Central London. Something had to be done as we were kicked for being too hard-line over kettling tactics and were kicked again for not doing enough during the recent student fees demos.
„The Hornet units will enforce the law in a robust and intelligence-led manner.“
Source: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3633046/Snatch-squads-to-nail-demo-rioters.html
