Montreal police use controversial kettling tactic to control student protesters

Last night, police kettled student protesters in Montreal, arresting 518.

The police tactic of kettling has been in the news recently thanks to a report from Ontario's police watchdog, criticizing riot officers for their use of kettling during the G20 summit two years ago in which more than 1,100 arrests were made.

What is it?

Kettling is when "riot police surround demonstrators and limit or cut off their exits," the CBC News defines. The police action then squeezes the mob together, tightening the circle. The tactic, widely used in Europe, often results in bystanders getting trapped with those the police are trying to detain.

In the case of the G20, critics of the kettling claim police violated civil liberties by using excessive force and detaining individuals illegally. Kettling was used on at least 10 occasions during the Toronto protests. There are currently 45 officers facing misconduct charges.

Another report found that the RCMP's role in kettling — they participated only reluctantly — was inconsistent with their policy, which requires them to provide an exit in crowd-control situations.

The Toronto Star tells the story of one Ontario Provincial Police officer, Staff Sergeant Bradley Thompson, who "said no to kettling" during the G20 protests and provided an exit to two 12-year-old girls caught in the mob of arrested protesters. He called the strategy not a "sound tactical move" and criticized police for not making clear announcements to protesters as to what was going on.

Constable Daniel Lacoursiere of the Montreal police defended Wednesday's kettling to CBC News, claiming that officers were in danger: "Their physical integrity was in jeopardy."

In Montreal last night, bystanders were overheard begging to be released from the corralled crowd.