8. CONTAINMENT (KETTLING) Description: Containment (also called “kettling” or “corralling”), is the police tactic of enclosing a group of people in a specific area, preventing them from leaving and preventing others from joining the group. The containment may be performed by lines of police officers or by the use of shields or other barriers. Intended purpose: This tactic is intended to be used against parts of a crowd, containing people who present an imminent risk of violence or of causing serious damage to property, or to stop people within a crowd who are already engaged in such acts.43 The intended effect is to de-escalate tension by allowing those contained to leave in small manageable groups over time. Possible health and/or human rights implications of use in policing assemblies: The tactic of containment (kettling) is indiscriminate, as it affects all those in the area targeted. It is often employed for long periods and can have a chilling effect on people seeking to exercise their right to peaceful assembly. This effect is exacerbated when containment is used for intelligence gathering (e.g., recording names and addresses or taking photographs/video of those contained). Other human rights that could be affected include the right to liberty and security of person and the right to freedom of movement. Health concerns arise when no food or water is offered to those contained and when no access is provided to toilets or shelter. Certain groups may be particularly vulnerable (e.g., elderly people, children, pregnant women, persons with disabilities). Preventing people from accessing toilets for an extended period is likely to amount to degrading treatment. 43 ODIHR, Human Rights Handbook on Policing Assemblies, op. cit., p.101.