Kenneth Macleod, Training Manager at Risk Management Resources, evaluates the different types of protests and how they can be effectively managed.

The spectrum of protests is wide ranging from organised, peaceful and lawful gatherings to extremist actions involving violence.

Knowing where a protest falls on this spectrum is key to determining the right response.

Below are the different types of protests and how they can be effectively managed, balancing the need for safety with the protection of democratic rights and the rights of others to go about their lawful business.

1. Peaceful Protests: The Foundation of Democratic Expression

At one end of the spectrum, we have peaceful protests.

These are typically organised in advance, with clear objectives and communication with local authorities.

Peaceful protests can include marches, sit-ins, vigils, or demonstrations where participants aim to express their views without resorting to violence or unlawful activities.

· Characteristics: Organisers usually notify authorities in advance, allowing for coordination on routes, times, and safety measures. These protests are often characterised by banners, chants, speeches, and a high degree of organisation.

· Challenges: While peaceful, they can still cause disruption—blocking roads, drawing crowds, and potentially impacting local businesses or services. The challenge is to manage these without infringing on participants’ rights.

· Management Strategy: The key here is collaboration. Engaging with protest organisers early to understand their plans and objectives. This approach allows for joint planning, where safety measures can be established, routes agreed upon, and facilitative services prepared. Effective communication with both protestors, probable counter-protesters and the general public is essential to minimise and explain disruption to ensure safety.

2. Spontaneous Protests: The Challenge of the Unplanned

Next, we have spontaneous protests.

These are typically triggered by a specific event or incident, often without prior notice to authorities.

They can arise anywhere—from a city centre to a remote village—catching local authorities and security teams off guard.

· Characteristics: Little to no advance notice, unpredictable locations, varied group sizes and unclear leadership. They can start small but quickly grow, depending on the public’s response to the triggering event.

· Challenges: The unpredictability of these protests is the biggest challenge. They can escalate quickly, especially in emotionally charged situations or when social media amplifies the call to action. Lack of prior coordination also makes it harder to ensure the safety of both protesters and the public.

· Management Strategy: Rapid Response and Flexibility are crucial. Security teams must be trained to quickly assess the situation, communicate effectively, and deploy resources as needed. Flexible response plans that can be adapted to different scenarios are vital, as is real-time intelligence gathering through social media monitoring and local informants.

3. Coordinated but Disruptive Protests: Planned Disruption for Impact

Some protests are coordinated but deliberately disruptive.

These may involve tactics like blockades, sit-ins at critical infrastructure points, or occupying buildings to draw attention to a cause.

While these protests are often non-violent, their goal is to cause significant disruption.

· Characteristics: Clear planning and coordination with the aim of maximum visibility and impact. Protestors may target transportation hubs, government buildings, or key businesses to force a reaction or highlight a grievance.

· Challenges: Disruptive protests can lead to significant public inconvenience, economic impact, or safety concerns, especially if they target critical infrastructure like airports or railway stations.

· Management Strategy: A proportionate response is key. Security Teams must be prepared to handle the disruption professionally, using direct engagement with a knowledge of everyone’s role to ensure public safety. Negotiation and dialogue with protest leaders can often resolve the situation without the need for escalation. Having a visible security presence with the appropriate training and a clear plan founded on their responsibilities and capabilities, may also minimise the potential of escalation. However, where protest actions do escalate then the plan enables a measured and proportionate response.

4. Extremist Protests: The Need for a Trained and Controlled Response

On the far end of the spectrum, we encounter Extremism.

These protests may start peacefully but result in serious criminal behaviours due to various triggers—whether internal, such as elements within the protest, or external, like counter-protests or social media posts.

Alternatively, some protests are planned with the intent to engage in criminality from the start.

· Characteristics: Damage to property, clashes with law enforcement, looting, and other forms of violence. Often involves a mix of protestors with varying motivations or personal/political agendas, making it harder to manage. Where this impacts on private companies with Security Providers, they should consider this as part of their Risk Register and determine what their lawful policy is for their Security Team response and to what circumstances.

· Challenges: The primary challenge is maintaining control or minimising escalation, where this is possible. Dynamic and committed activist/extremist protests can quickly overwhelm unprepared security forces and cause significant harm to people and property.

· Management Strategy: Firm but controlled response is crucial. In these circumstances it is the responsibility of law Enforcement to respond. However, it is likely that the dynamic nature of these types of events may overwhelm them, and therefore the response of private Security Companies in the protection of themselves, their client, people and assets should be carefully considered, assessed and exercised beforehand. Coordination with law enforcement and emergency services is essential to protect lives and minimize damage. Real-time intelligence and strong communication channels help the response in managing activist or extremist actions.

Glue-On / Adhesion Incidents: A Growing Disruption Tactic

A relatively recent and increasingly popular tactic within the spectrum of protests involves glue-on / adhesion incidents.

These methods have been adopted by protest groups across the World to create maximum disruption with minimal resources, often targeting high-visibility areas like city centres, government buildings, or major traffic routes.

· Characteristics: In these incidents, protesters use industrial-strength adhesives, superglue, or even chaining and locking devices to attach themselves to buildings, vehicles, gates, fences, or public infrastructure like bridges and roads. This tactic is often aimed at halting business operations, blocking transport routes, or drawing attention to specific causes.

· Why It’s Used: The goal is to create a significant nuisance or disruption, forcing authorities to address the protest and increasing media coverage. For many protesters, glue-on tactics are a form of non-violent direct action. They believe that by physically attaching themselves to objects, they can make it harder for law enforcement to remove them without causing harm, thereby disrupting the subject of their protest.

· Challenges: These incidents can escalate quickly, posing several challenges for security personnel:

o Safety Risks: Attempting to remove protesters from glued or locked positions poses safety risks to both the protester and the security team. There is a high risk of injury if not handled correctly.

o Operational Disruption: Glue-on tactics are designed to create maximum disruption, whether blocking traffic, halting public transport, or shutting down business operations.

o Resource Drain: Dealing with these incidents often requires specialized equipment, trained personnel, and significant time, diverting resources away from other critical areas.

· Management Strategy:

o Specialised Equipment and Training: Ensure that response teams are equipped with appropriate tools and protective gear to safely and effectively remove adhesives or cut through chains and locks. Training in safe removal techniques is essential to avoid injuries.

o Coordination with Emergency Services: Working closely with local emergency services, including fire and rescue teams, can be beneficial, as they may have specialised equipment for cutting or dissolving adhesives when the protester is no longer actively protesting.

o Containment and De-escalation: While waiting for specialized teams to arrive, the focus should be on containing the area, keeping bystanders safe, and de-escalating any tensions. Engaging in dialogue with the protesters can also help assess the situation and find a peaceful resolution.

o Documentation and Communication: Documenting the incident thoroughly with photos, videos, and witness statements is crucial for any legal proceedings or claims. Clear communication with the public, especially if there are delays or disruptions, helps maintain order and calm.

Balancing Security and Rights: A Delicate Dance

The art of protest management lies in balancing the need for public safety with the protection of democratic rights. In the UK, this balance is particularly delicate.

The right to protest is enshrined in law, but so is the responsibility to ensure public safety and order.

A one-size-fits-all approach does not work for protests.

Different types require different strategies, and the ability to adapt swiftly to changing circumstances is paramount.

For security teams, this means not just being reactive, but proactive; understanding the likely dynamics of protests, engaging with organisers, and training for a wide range of scenarios.

Training for the Unexpected: Preparing Your Team for All Protest Types

This is where professional training, such as RMR’s “Dealing with Incursions, Protests, and Activism” course, comes in.

This course is designed to equip security professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to handle the full spectrum of protests.

From situational awareness and risk assessment to communication skills and legal knowledge, participants learn how to manage any situation, keeping people safe and respecting their rights.

Whether you’re dealing with a peaceful march, a sudden flash protest, or a violent incursion, preparation is key.

By understanding the types of protests and the best strategies for managing them, security teams can better protect both public safety and the right to protest—a fundamental part of a healthy democracy.

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