Kettling is a crowd control technique used by law enforcement to herd protesters towards a specific area, sometimes holding them for hours without access to basic necessities. It was first used by German law enforcement in 1986 and has been criticized and even sued by citizens. The tactic involves using other riot and crowd control methods, and innocent bystanders can also be trapped. Lawsuits have been filed against law enforcement agencies using the kettle.
Sometimes, during protests or other crowd gatherings, law enforcement agencies use a crowd control technique known as kettling. This technique is also sometimes known as corralling or containment, and involves police herding protesters, or other members of a crowd, towards a specific area. Sometimes these crowds can be held for hours, which denies them certain rights and privileges. This crowd management technique has been scrutinized in a number of countries, and some citizens have even filed lawsuits against local law enforcement using the kettle.
Kettling gets its name from the idea that steam is confined to a small area in a teapot. It was first developed and used by German law enforcement agencies in 1986. During a protest against nuclear devices in Hamburg, German law enforcement agencies used the kettle to try and contain around 800 people.
During preparation, a line of law enforcement officers usually try to force a crowd into a certain designated area. It is often compared to herding cattle in one spot in a field. Sometimes the crowd is turned away, sometimes the crowd is forced to stay in a certain area for hours. During this time, members of the mob are typically denied any privileges such as water, food, or toilets. The idea behind the concept is that the protesters will become so tired that the only energy left will be focused on giving up and going home.
In addition to other tactics, sometimes police officers involved in ketling will use other riot and crowd control methods to lead the crowd where they want. The use of police batons and other violent riot tactics are not uncommon when it comes to boiling. Many law enforcement officials who have used this tactic have been criticized and some have even been sued.
During the May Day riots of 2001, London police officers attempted to control crowds in the streets using the kettle. They held off the crowd for hours and even some innocent bystanders were trapped along with the protesters. Two people tried to sue the police department but lost in 2005. They appealed but lost that too.
In 2002, during a protest against nuclear devices, the German police also used the kettle for crowd control. A woman has sued the police, claiming she was not allowed access to a bathroom during crowd management. The courts ruled in her favor, stating that she had not been treated humanely.
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