Coping with Civil Unrest

Dick Fedorcio

Director of Public Affairs

10 February 2011

Date Arial 14pt

Union Strategic Objectives?Adrian Day, Vermillion Advisers:

• To gain widespread support before any battle is fought to force a Government rethink

• This will require winning the hearts and minds of the general public

• To convey the broader message that unions do valuable work within the community, work hard to engage the public and win grassroots support

• Not to focus just on strikes

Union Campaign Style?Andrew Caesar Gordon, Electric Airways:

Traditional – antagonistic language and public demonstrations:

We are fighting the public sector cuts because our members are going to suffer…

Or nuanced - a campaign of understanding and persuasion:

Because so many people rely on public services, which are delivered by our members, we understand the pain these cuts will cause and we are fighting them…

Union Campaign Aim?Len McCluskey, General Secretary, UNITE19 October 2010

"We will fight the cuts with every bone in our bodies. Our battle starts today for public sector workers and private sector workers, to protect the poor and the vulnerable…"

Met Policing Operation

Objective

To facilitate peaceful protest…

……balancing freedom of expression, public safety and human rights while enforcing the law…..

Met Communication Strategy

Objectives

• To prepare Londoners for demonstrations and protests and to inform them about the likely disruption that may be caused;

• To highlight our policing response before, during and after any demonstration or protest and to ensure the integrity and credibility of the MPS is protected;

Met Communication Strategy

• To put-in place proportionate staffing levels to support the operational policing response and establish plans to escalate staffing arrangements to deal with widespread public disorder if necessary;

• To ensure that stakeholders and opinion formers (including partners) are fully appraised of our policing response;

Met Communication Strategy

• To ensure that MPS staff are kept fully informed of developments by using existing internal communication channels.

Communication Rules of Engagement – Metropolitan Police

• Openness, accuracy and honesty

• Independent Police Complaints Commission

• Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary

• Metropolitan Police Authority Scrutiny

• Home Affairs Select Committee Scrutiny

• Media Scrutiny

Communication Rules of Engagement – Protesters

• None

Met Communication Strategy

Key Messages and Actions

• Prior to the event

• During the event

• In the event of public disorder

• In the aftermath of disorder, when order has been maintained

Met Communication StrategyReview and Evaluation

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Freedom of Information Act

Protective Marking: Restricted Publication Scheme Y/N: No

Title: Coping with Civil Unrest

Summary: LGC Comms Presentation – 10 February 2011

Branch / OCU: Directorate of Public Affairs

Date created: 10 February 2011

Review date: Version: 1

Author: Dick Fedorcio