Baton charge

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A Baton Charge is commonly the descriptive term relating to a coordinated tactic for violent crowd dispersal, this particular tactic is usually employed by Police or the Military in the appropriate situation. Although in some countries law enforcement agencies are not permitted to use this tactic unless no other logical means is deemed feasable.

The Police Officer (and in some cases soldiers) are provided with batons, this tactic is desigined to hit the offenders and in theory the pain caused would make them to move away from the scene. As a general practice, during baton charges the police concentrate more on people moving or standing as a group, Individuals are usually allowed to escape so they are not seriously hurt in the charge.

[edit] India

In Indian language a baton would often be called a Lathi. Some police forces Lathi's are around 5 ft in length, while in some states it is of a lesser size. The usage Lathi charge is used more by the Indian media, more than Baton charge. In addition to the lathi, in addition to that the officers are provided with Riot gear like helmets, shields, shin guards etc.

The Lathi drill is taught to all Indian Police recruits, this tactic has received controversy from human rights campaigners. The drill teaches the police recruit to use the lathi to cause maximum amount of each strike to the victim usually the shoulder bones are targeted first due to low fatallity risk, but in a last resort the head may be struck.

[edit] United Kingdom

Usually when large demonstrations take place that are deemed unstable, the territorial police force responsible for the demonstration in that area will usually deply Police Support Unit personnel who are trained in riot tactics, along with normal divisional officers. If the demonstration turns violent "Snatch Squad" tactic would be employed this consists of three to four officers rushing a group of violent or disorderly group of people with two of the officers carrying batons and the other a shield, the officer with the shield would rush the most violent of the group and force him inbetween the shield and the wall, while the officers with the batons would arrest the others and escort them out of the crowds.

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