Wednesday, December 15th, 2010
London's top police officer says he is considering banning student marches in the wake of violent flare-ups at protests opposing a massive increase in university tuition fees.
The move has prompted some observers to declare that Britain may be headed towards "martial law" as police push back against angry youth who find they can no longer afford an education, at a time when jobs openings are rare.
Speaking about a possible ban on marches, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said "it is one of the tactics we will look at and something we will keep under review, and if we think it is the right thing to do then we will do it."
The declaration has incensed students' groups, who in recent weeks held four large demonstrations in London to protest the tripling of university tuition fees to the equivalent of $18,000 per year. Britain's parliament passed the hike this week.
"Peaceful protest is an integral part of our heritage and it is the responsibility of the police to help facilitate that," said Aaron Porter, president of National Union of Students of the UK.
Full story HERE
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