Students to face baton guns if demo turns ugly

Scotland Yard has authorised the use of baton round "guns" if there is serious violence at this week's student protest.

Commander Simon Pountain, who is in charge of policing the march to the City on Wednesday, said baton rounds would only be used if officers' lives were at risk. He emphasised the weapons were not being deployed but were available in reserve.

It is thought to be the first time the use of baton rounds has been authorised for a protest march. Authority was given during the summer riots but they were not deployed.

More than 4,000 police, including 500 from outside London, will oversee the march.
Police say they are planning for a peaceful protest but fear it could be hijacked by anarchists and troublemakers.

Mr Pountain said the large police presence was a consequence of the riots in August and last year's student protests which ended in disorder. Organisers of the protest against education cuts say they expect as many as 10,000 to take part.

The march route is being kept away from the St Paul's encampment but protesters from the cathedral camp are expected to join in. On the same day 800 cabbies and the electricians' union are staging protests in central London.

The National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts, which is organising the action, has given students training on recruiting schoolchildren, with one leaflet saying: "The riots this summer show beyond doubt that lots of young people are burning with intense anger, frustration and willingness to take some pretty extreme action."

Michael Chessum, from the campaign, said: "We believe that this is about the future of people who are not going to university and it's only right that they join in." He added leaflets had been handed out to sixth formers and older pupils.

Police will distribute leaflets to students warning of the consequences of criminal actions.