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EUROPE: Amnesty issues guidelines to police in wake of violent crackdowns on austerity protests

Europe’s police services received a sharp wake-up call this morning thanks to a new hard-hitting briefing from Amnesty International on the policing of austerity protests across the continent.

The briefing reveals a catalogue of human rights abuses against peaceful protestors by law-enforcement officers across the European Union. Demonstrators have been beaten and kicked, sprayed with tear gas, and shot at and wounded with rubber bullets. Yet the abuses have gone uninvestigated and unpunished.

Through personal stories from Greece, Spain and Romania, Amnesty International’s briefing Policing demonstrations in the European Union exposes the excessive use of force against protesters and journalists, arbitrary detention and the obstruction of access to medical assistance.

The report goes on to issue a list of do’s and don’ts for the continent’s police services and calls on governments to prevent and investigate these human rights violations immediately.

Fotis Filippou, Amnesty International’s Regional Campaign Coordinator for Europe and Central Asia, said:

“Yes, the police are responsible for the protection of public safety, law and order. However, they also have the responsibility to ensure that everyone within their territories can enjoy the right to peaceful assembly.

“Governments must spell out and reiterate that police officers may use force only when strictly necessary. They must introduce strict guidelines on the use of potentially lethal riot-control devices such as pepper spray and tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets.

“As more demonstrations take place, governments must make it clear to their law enforcement forces that no abuses will be tolerated, that all complaints into police brutality will be properly investigated and those responsible held to account.

“The police – often the most visible arm of the state – have to walk a fine line between protecting the right to freedom of assembly and maintaining public order. They can do this successfully if they respect existing international standards and good practice guidelines when policing demonstrations.”

Policing demonstrations:
DOs
:
• Facilitate peaceful public assemblies avoiding the use of force and protect them against violent individuals or smaller groups.
• De-escalate tense or violent situations and communicate with organisers and demonstrators before and during the operation.
• Minimise damage, preserve and respect life and protect uninvolved people.
• Use police powers – arrests and detention – only for lawful aims.
• Use force only to the extent necessary, and only when non- or less-violent means have failed or are unlikely to achieve the legitimate objective.
• Consider carefully the policing and security equipment used for dispersing an assembly in-line with the principles of necessity, proportionality and lawfulness, as equipment such as rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades – often described as “less lethal” – can lead to serious injury and even death.
• Provide without delay medical assistance to anyone injured.
• Be identifiable especially during public order operations.
• Review any use of force during a public assembly, and, where appropriate, investigate and impose disciplinary or criminal sanctions.

DON’Ts:
• Firearms or shotguns should never be used for the purpose of dispersing a crowd.
• Batons and similar impact equipment should not be used on people who are unthreatening and non-aggressive.
• Chemical irritants, such as tear gas, should not be used where people are confined in an area and not in a way that can cause lasting harm.
 

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