NCJ Number
93893
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 57 Issue: 2 Dated: (April-June 1984) Pages: 146-164
Date Published
1984
Length
19 pages
Annotation
The degree of violence associated with industrial strikes in Great Britain has decreased over the past 100 years.
Abstract
In the late 19th century, strikers generally behaved in a very disorderly manner -- destroying property and stoning police and troops -- while the military responded, sometimes with lethal force. By the time of the South Wales Coal Strike in 1910, the strikers had moderated their behavior so that it consisted of violently obstructing ''backlegs'' and materials rather than outright destruction of property. The reaction to this form of behavior typically consisted of the police baton charge, possibly with troops held in reserve as a backup force. During the interwar period, strikers generally adopted very orderly and restrained tactics. This did not prevent them from being baton charged with monotonous regularity. Contemporary industrial confrontation generally takes one of two forms: normal or mass picketing. In normal picketing situations, a good relationship exists between police and strikers, with virtually no violence. During mass picketing, both police and strikers engage in limited violence which typically involves pushing and shoving. Industrial conflict has changed from something resembling a war to something more like a sporting match. A total of 72 references are provided. (Author summary Modified)