Vulcan: 'by taking the softly softly approach now, the police are building up much bigger problems for the future.'
I agree with you but feel that on this particular weekend the instruction to the Police to take one for the greater good was the right approach. (I posted an extract from an operational order to that effect some days ago but I can't find it now.)
In terms of a riot it was pretty tame and I saw no disorder that couldn't have been sorted with properly kitted out coppers and a few baton charges.
But that would inevitably have led to allegations of brutality and carefully edited mobile phone footage, backed up by the 'Legal Observers', who were there wearing orange tabards, and inflamed the situation.
I think they should be told that they have had their day(s), the period of grace is over and anyone now committing offences will be arrested, by force if necessary. Let the boys put their babygrows and helmets on, get some prison vans parked up, let the dogs attend and reclaim the streets for all the rest of the public and the legitimate, peaceful protesters who mainly behaved themselves well.
(I was impressed to see some protesters forming a cordon in front of one small group of hard pressed PC's to protect them from the troublemakers until reinforcements arrived.)