Crowd Control: Mechanisms and Strategies
Mass Control Mechanisms
Whenever a crowd is forming, creating a situation that alerts the police, civil defense, or private facilities, it’s important to consider the potential for violent behavior. This behavior could be directed towards its own members, other individuals, or property. Regardless of the initial purpose of the crowd, the consequences are unpredictable. Therefore, preventive measures based on the type of mass, individuals, and physical space are crucial.
Key Factors in Crowd Management
Size
The size of the crowd is a significant factor for police control. The type of activity presented by the demonstrators mediates the challenges.
Degree of Involvement of Individual Participants
There are several categories of participants:
Subjects Directly Involved
These individuals feel disadvantaged and are actively protesting.
People Who Enjoy Violence
These individuals are not interested in the objectives of the mass but enjoy participating in violence. Their numbers vary depending on the site and acts. The police must prevent these groups from joining the crowd to avoid escalating violent actions.
Individuals Involved in Conflict
These individuals become actively involved due to previous aggression by the crowd or the police. Good policing reduces the number of individuals in this category.
Viewers
These individuals are present at the same time and place as the mass violence. They have no intention of participating but their passive presence can hinder police functions and be used for propaganda if the police use force indiscriminately. This must be considered to avoid a negative image of the police.
Unintentional Viewers
These individuals did not want to be there and do not represent a problem from the police viewpoint.
Preventive Action and Police Behavior
With proper management of these variables, preventive police action is always possible. The number of aggressive individuals in a mass is usually minimal compared to the total number of participants. The police cannot control the internal slogans or communications of organizers or participants, but they can control their own attitude and behavior. When repressive police action is necessary, it must be prompt, fair, neutral, and technically correct. Speed does not mean precipitation. Prolonged face-to-face confrontations between violent elements and the police are not productive. The police presence itself can excite the minds of protesters, which is why riot units are usually kept away from the path of the crowd.
Verbal abuse and harassment can increase the emotional burden on the police. Adequate psychological preparation is essential to avoid personal involvement in the conflict.