DIALOGUE Background Gothenburg riots 2001 European council meeting

DIALOGUE

Background Gothenburg riots 2001 European council meeting & visit by president Bush

Background Gothenburg, 2001 • No remarks regarding fair and meeting security • 3 main demonstrations generally calm • Blockade of Hvitfeldtska Senior High School • Reclaim the city • Violent riots and police brutality; 53 police officers and 90 demonstrators injured • 530 arrests • Chief commissioner charged for the blockade • 1 demonstrator shot by police and seriously injured

Background The Gothenburg committee report • 6 man Contact group (”Psyops group”) invention • Support within highest level of hierarchy, but mocked by colleagues; ”the cozy group” • Evaluation; clear purpose and mandate; time frame to be able to combat distrust; work on getting the concept accepted by the rank and file; need of understanding of these group and society as a whole; keep agreements simple

National perspective • SPT – Special Police Tactics • Dialogue group in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmoe - 3, 5 full time posts • 30 dialogue officers on part time

Police dialogue has been developed to be: - A mediation between demonstrators and police departments /state and municipalities - The method is dialogue

The main purpose of police dialogue is: • To be a link between demonstrators and the police department • To be a safeguard for citizens rights, according to the constitution

Constitutional law in Sweden Freedom of speech Freedom of religion Freedom to assembly Freedom to organise Freedom of information

• Reduce the risk of violent disturbances and crimes • Avoid misunderstandings, the spread of rumours and stereotypisation • Create confidence and trust between police and demonstrators

Transparency Predictability Accessibility Knowledge Social competence

The opponents perspective Interpreting perspective instead of reviewing

Dialogue officers do not work with: - Criminal investigations - Intelligence - Surveillance

In the long run, dialogue police should work with: undemocratic movements, aiming to get them to realise the benefits of using democratic methods and views

People who follow the rules and regulations of a democratic society should always get advantages to those who do not To literally teach the democratic way by pointing out the clear connection between acts and consequences

A dialogue officer´s function during an operation

Create basis for commanders decisions and tactical considerations

Social identities and Self Policing Z Z Z Y Y Z Y X X X Y Y Y Z XXX Y Y Y X X XX X X Y Y Y X Y Y Z

Pricinples for reducing conflicts 1. Information 2. Communication 3. Facilitation 4. Differentiation