Non-Subscriber Extract
'Mutual distrust' and poor communication led to G20 clashes
By Max Blain
29 July 2009
THE 'very poor' communication between the police and G20 protestors could have led to officers taking a more 'heavy handed' approach than they otherwise would have, a group of MPs has concluded.
In a report released today, MPs on the Joint Select Committee on Human Rights said there was 'mutual distrust' between protestors and the police in the run-up to the 1 April protests in London and they called for independent negotiators to try to improve communication in the future.
They said: 'We see merit in using independent negotiators to facilitate dialogue between police and protestors where the parties encounter difficulties in communicating directly. Such negotiators could also help resolve disputes.'