London police to evaluate riot policies

LONDON, May 9 (UPI) -- London's police chief says he would be reluctant to see British police begin using the more violent methods of crowd control employed by other nations.

The Times of London reported Saturday that Paul Stephenson, the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said Scotland Yard will be reviewing its policies for policing violent demonstrations.

His department was criticized during last month's G20 demonstrations for containing demonstrators for hours with its controversial "kettling" tactic, where demonstrators are herded together into a holding area.

Stephenson said that he wanted to "recognize the disquiet over our tactic without actually saying the tactic is wrong" He said that letting demonstrators leave the area when they wished and frightening members of the public was "hugely irresponsible."

He added, "Is this the price we pay for not having the paramilitary equipment that our colleagues would have on the continent?"

As for using the same methods as deployed by European police forces, which include the use of water cannon, Stephenson said he would be reluctant to do so.

"I don't want to see that development but let's commission a review," he said.