{"id":6418,"date":"2022-08-24T17:42:54","date_gmt":"2022-08-24T17:42:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=6418"},"modified":"2022-08-24T17:42:54","modified_gmt":"2022-08-24T17:42:54","slug":"kettling-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/kettling-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Kettling \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you watching footage of the COVID protests? You might notice the police using a crowd control tactic called \u2018kettling<\/em><\/strong>.\u2019<\/p>\n

This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The term \u2018kettling<\/em>\u2019 refers to a crowd control tactic employed by police forces in the United States, Europe, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. The kettling tactic involves officers surrounding an unruly crowd, preventing them from leaving the area they\u2019re protesting in.<\/p>\n

This strategy prevents the crowd from spilling out to harm bystanders. It also allows the police to identify the troublemakers in the group. It\u2019s a remarkably effective crowd control tactic used during large-scale protests.<\/p>\n

Kettling can sometimes involve using a mesh fence to create a physical barrier between the police and the protestors.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cThe COVID-19 protests were crazy to watch. Huge crowds were outnumbering the police. However, the \u2018kettling\u2019 tactic used by officers helped them control the crowds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember watching the protests on the TV during the pandemic. The \u2018kettling\u2019 tactic used by the police to control the crowds is quite effective.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSome activists argue that the police tactic of \u2018kettling\u2019 is nothing more than intimidation and an abuse of human rights.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t it amazing how all the police forces in the developed world use \u2018kettling\u2019 during the COVID protests? It\u2019s like they all got the same training.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The word 'kettling' came to the forefront of media reports during the COVID protests in England and Australia in 2020. However, the tactic was previously used by New York Police during the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement in 2011 and during the G20 global leadership summit in 2009.<\/p>\n

The 'kettle' refers to the area where the protestors are taking action. The police surround the protestors, with some experts comparing the activity to a boiling kettle threatening to spill over.<\/p>\n

Another theory regarding the name of the tactic comes from a connection to the German word 'Kessel,' meaning \"cauldron or boiler.\" However, language experts believe the true origin of the tactic and its name comes from military-speak where an armed force is about to experience defeat at the hands of a superior military.<\/p>\n

Many activists suggest 'kettling' is an unlawful practice by the police since it contains protestors and bystanders in the same space unjustly, creating the potential for the conflagration of emotions by the crowd.<\/p>\n

Some police departments around the globe, such as Toronto, have denounced the practice and sworn never to use it in crowd control.<\/p>\n

Phrases Similar to Kettling<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Riot tactics.<\/li>\n
  • Crowd control.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Phrases Opposite to Kettling<\/h2>\n
      \n
    • Freedom.<\/li>\n
    • Defund the police.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      What is the Correct Saying?<\/h2>\n
        \n
      • Kettling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Ways People May Say Kettling \u00a0Incorrectly<\/h2>\n

        The expression \u2018kettling\u2019 doesn\u2019t have anything to do with a kettle or boiling water in a kettle. It refers to a police anti-riot tactic used to suppress aggression and control crowds. The term has nothing to do with kettles or kitchenware.<\/p>\n

        Acceptable Ways to Phrase Kettling<\/h2>\n

        You can use the expression \u2018kettling\u2019 when referring to police tactics employed in the UK during the COVID-19 riots. During these protests, people would gather in large numbers. The police would form a ring around them, \u2018kettling\u2019 them in.<\/p>\n

        So, you can use the term to refer to situations where the police or groups of people surround you and prevent you from leaving. The tactic is employed by police riot control squads around the globe, including in countries like the UK, France, Germany, and Australia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Are you watching footage of the COVID protests? You might notice the police using a crowd control tactic called \u2018kettling.\u2019 This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The term \u2018kettling\u2019 refers to a crowd control tactic employed by police forces in the United States, Europe, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6418"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6418"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6418\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8188,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6418\/revisions\/8188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6418"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6418"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6418"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}