Public Order: Managing civil unrest – Tom Wingate at IFSEC International

The 2012 Olympics provided an excellent template for the Metropolitan Police to rebuild relations and confidence with London’s business communities said MPS engagement officer Tom Wingate.

Speaking on the Safe City’s Academy stage at the IFSEC exhibition, Wingate presented some of the tactics and good practice that his team had employed post Olympics which were employed during the 2013, G8 protests.

The impact of the 2011 rioting had caught the Met unawares and unprepared which left businesses and the business community feeling as if things were “too little too late”, said Wingate.

Wingate told the audience that the Olympics had provided the perfect opportunity to rebuild relations as, “we planned for everything including the plague.”

Effective communication was a key theme of Wingate’s talk as he spoke of basic security and safety messages being sent through the internal security as opposed to external Met Police emails.

Old-fashioned community engagement

Further to this, old fashioned community engagement and simple but effective tactics were employed. “We asked businesses if they could implement dress down days during this period so business people and employees were less distinguishable. Also if possible working from home arrangements were encouraged to further reduce risk.”

Wingate also spoke of the importance of monitoring social media and identifying peaks and troughs in order to predict and plan a response.

The Canary Wharf protest during the G8 was seen as an example of how effective Police engagement had the desired affect of maintaining peace and security whilst keeping all sides happy.

The initial injunction taken out by the Canary Wharf group prevented any protests against the determination of protestors.

“The Met’s intervention negotiated a small time for protest which didn’t affect the workers and businesses and allowed protestors to get their money shot for the media.”

With up to 40 protests in London everyday Wingate provided advice for businesses in ways they can prepare for any targeted protests against them;

What can you do to prepare?

Identify what part of your building is public and what is private.

Identify who is in your building and are they likely to attract protest/media attention

Is there anywhere identified to facilitate protest?

Things to consider  

What is the make up of your staff (carer, disability, have young children)?

Entry and exit points for your staff?

Can you quantify disruption caused and is it ‘serious’ (hour/day/week)?

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