Riot acts

In the aftermath of last month's G20 protests, the issue of how best to police public order events is facing intense scrutiny.

Sir Paul Stephenson, Met commissioner, has asked HM Inspectorate of Constabulary to review public order tactics, while the actions of three police officers are subject to Independent Police Complaints Commission investigations.

Politicians, pressure groups and the media have been lining up to voice their opinions on how the Met dealt with the protests, with a particular focus placed on 'kettling' – the tactic of containing protesters in one area for hours at a time.

So is this a watershed moment for public order policing or is it a case of history repeating itself? Police Review looks through the archives at how the magazine reported on four major public order events of the recent past to find out how the protests of the past have shaped the tactics of today.