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This page shows the
police operations at a 3000-person protest march against war in Iraq in March
2003. |
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A crows begins to gather. People mill around in a largely
friendly and peaceful manner. The police's command officers discuss the
route and style of the procession with the organisers. |
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The vehicles leading the march to clear the road ahead. The
route lends itself to small vehicles, so this motorbike and police cycle
are ideal, backed up by officers on foot. |
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Two police vans can be seen parked in the background which
will be used to follow the march. |
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Uniformed officers on foot and the police motorbike make
their way to the main road. They prepare to stop the traffic to allow the
march to join the carriageway. |
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Uniformed police officers use hand signals to stop the
traffic as the motorbike begins to move off, in anticipation of the
marchers soon following. |
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The protesters snake their way along a dual carriageway
section of road. Lots of noise, chanting and instrument playing further
increase their presence. Some motorists sound their horns either in
support or annoyance! |
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At the half-distance stage, police officers stop the
procession to allow the back-markers to catch up. The deafening noise of
the marchers reverberates off the tall buildings and brings out hundreds
of shoppers, many of whom join in! |
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The police mountain bike and motorbike continue to lead the
group the wrong way through a pedestrianised shopping area. A smaller
procession in quickly diverted away from meeting head-on with the main
protest by the quick thinking of the leading officers. They use hand signals
and sirens to move the smaller procession to one side. |
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The protest passed off
without any arrests. Only one casualty was treated for stumbling on some
steps. However, the protests were not very successful as war broke out
only a few days later. |
