Ministry of Defence Police: Best practice in dealing with disabled protestors

• The Ministry of Defence Police has defined what is accepted as best practice in dealing with disabled protesters.
• Disabled protestors who are dealt with by police forces and law enforcement agencies throughout the UK and abroad are now more likely to be appropriately treated as individuals with the democratic right to protest and be arrested.

The Ministry of Defence Police has defined best practice in dealing with the arrest of a disabled protester. The MDP Divisional Support Group (Scotland) has built on several years' experience in dealing with protestors, particularly a year-long protest outside the Faslane nuclear submarine base in Scotland, during which they dealt with 30 disabled protesters.

Officers are trained to be considerate and respectful of all non-violent protesters, including those who lock their wheelchair to a wall, railing or similar object to cause an (unlawful) obstruction. Although this action is criminal, and  arrests needed to be made, the police received several letters from disabled protestors and carers thanking them for the way in which the arrests were dealt with.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has produced a Manual of Guidance based on the MDP DSG Scotland's experience.  As a result disabled protestors who are dealt with by police forces and other law enforcement agencies throughout the UK and abroad are more likely to be treated in a manner that respects them as individuals with the democratic right to protest and with due regard to their safety and wellbeing, even when they need to be arrested.