Fear of kettling puts families off protests

Parents and pregnant women are being put off attending tomorrow's anti-cuts protest in London because they are worried about being kettled for hours at a time by police.

The internet messageboard Mumsnet is being used to swap tips on how to avoid mass detention at the march.

One mother, Nicole Ludeke – who has a baby and is pregnant – told The Independent she wanted to go but dared not. "I feel strongly about the motives for the demonstration. Many of my friends are going and I would if there was a guarantee I could get out of a kettling scenario," she said.

A Met Police spokesman said officers had been ordered to use discretion and, where appropriate, to allow vulnerable people to leave kettles.