The following was printed in the March 1969 issue of the United Irishman, transcribed from the invaluable Left Archive. https://www.leftarchive.ie/document/view/289/. The images and paragraph structure are from the article. Though a little outside the usual scope of the blog, it was drawn up based on the experiences of the 50's and early 60's. Much could be said in analysis - examples of how these tactics played out, comparison and contrast with American Civil Rights demos, the incompatibility of some of the tactics with actual nonviolence - but for now it would be best to let the work speak for itself and intrigued readers can do their own research. My one comment is that the story of the Civil Rights Movement's stewards who implemented many of the strategies below during the 1966-1972 period deserves a proper account. - L.U.
DEFENCE TACTICS FOR DEMONSTRATIONS
The United Irishman, March 1969
The first line of defence of any government is its police force. Its main usefulness is moral rather than physical. It is always on show, day in and day out and for twenty four hours a day: directing traffic: handling crowds: delivering summonses; sticking tickets on parked cars and continuously prowling around in squad cars. In short, no member of the general public is ever allowed to forget that the government, through the police force, is in full command. it has been stated time and time again that the police are the eyes and ears government.
Blackmail
It is a fact not generally known that policemen are trained not to trust one another. In that way a subtle form of blackmail is encouraged and most members or the force are aware of this and, on odd occasions, will admit it. The reason for this system is obvious. It is simply that there must be a watchman to watch the watchman. The police are trained to believe that EVERYBODY is a potential criminal - even his own comrades. By this means he is enmeshed in a system over which no individual policeman has control and he needs must travel along with the system. He can, of course, resign from the force but since policemen are born and not made very few of them adopt this course.
Police and Judge
Apart from a cursory knowledge of law, a policeman's duties run along well-defined lines. In court procedure he knows, in advance, that the justice or judge is "with him", since the judge or justice and the police force are complementary to one another and are part of the system for enforcing the laws of the government. All legal systems are geared to work on behalf of the government in power for the time being and it is true to say that a policeman will work for any government, of whatever origin, domestic or foreign, communist or fascist, pagan or christian, which obtains for the time being and will switch allegiance at will to a monarchy or republican form or government. In Hungary during the 1956 Rising the special hatred of the people was reserved for the native police force, and it should not be forgotten that the Berlin Wall was built and continues to be maintained bbe maintained by the Easter German native police. They are taught not to think, but to act, on behalf of their masters, and will not stop at murder, if need be, to enforce the will of the government. The East German police force are proof of this but it is only one case in point.
Looked at soberly, it seems nothing short of farcical that 100 policemen armed with short sticks can clear a street of people who outnumber the police by sometimes over a hundred to one. The reason for this is to be seen in the system outlined above. The MORAL force of a uniform and the omniscience of the police enables them to do this. Strictly speaking, they have seldom failed to break up a disorderly crowd. Panic engendered in women and children helps them considerably and a few knocks on the heads of women will help to let the crowd see that the police will molest the innocent as well as the disorderly crowd without distinction. In many cases the innocent will suffer first in order to create the panic that is necessary- and panic is contagious. This, of course, is well known to the police who trade on the fact.
Police tactics
Discipline plays its part to a great extent, insofar as police are disciplined, and when they get out of hand they invariably degenerate into brute force, and herein lies their weakness. Discipline lasts until the moment the order to charge a crowd given. After that order given a policeman is on his own. He will seldom return to his lines until he has shown that he is not to trifled with, and the number of heads cracked is a matter of pride to be discussed when he and his comrade when he and his comrades return to barracks.
The tactics employed by the police force determined to clear a street or break up procession is as follows:-
A line is formed standing shoulder to shoulder across a street. The wider the street the better since a larger force can be employed at one opportunity. Behind the first line and at a distance of ten or twelve yards another line reinforces the front line, and so on depending upon the numbers of police available. Should the front ne ruline is difficulties the second line is sent in. An individual policeman getting into difficulties will be rescued at all costs by his colleagues. A dozen or more will go to his assistance if need be. Police will always if possible, wear heavy overcoats and gloves, first to pad themselves against injury and the second item so that no marks will be evident on the hands such as blood marks, and what is even more important, no fingerprints will remain on a baton to be identified in the event of a fatality amongst those attacked.
Points such as bridges are generally chosen by the police when about to bar a marching procession. When the street or bridge is too narrow to deploy a large force the footpaths are occupied on both sides of the approaching marchers and in front of the main defence line. The marchers thus walk into a trap consisting of a line to the front and a force on both sides. Thus the marchers can be attacked on three sides.
Reconnaissance, therefore, of the police lines is of the utmost importance. Scouts or runners should be well in advance of the procession and the strength, formation and deployment of that body as well as the numbers held in reserve, should be instantly transferred to the commander of the parade. As rule this can easily be ascertained. As well there are now reasonably priced short wave intercommunication radios which keeps touch with all stages of the march and stewards are informed of its progress. Hence, ignorance cannot be a factor in a well organised march
Should a report be received from a scout or runner, or by radio, to the effect that there is a large concentration of police lining a particular route then part of the procession should be diverted to a different route. Should the police then "cover off" the second route, another section of the marchers should sent on a different route.
This procedure has number of advantages. One is that the police are not quite sure as to which particular route the main procession will take, and another advantage is that the police in order order to try to be strong everywhere will be strong nowhere. Still another is that the marchers will form a number of compact groups, easy to control and amenable discipline.
Defence
A route with a number of streets running parallel to one another and using cross streets for maintaining communications between the various sections of the march ensure that if the police riot in one particular section or street the remaining sections can aid their beleaguered comrades. It should be strictly recognised that the aim, in this regard, is PROTECTION or DEFENCE, and not attack. It should be the primary aim of those in the march or protest that any attack must be allowed to originate with the police. Anyone disregarding this should not be allowed to take part.
Covering the rocks
To sum up the foregoing, one has but to remember that the tide coming in on a beach does not try to remove the rocks on the beach. It goes around them. Soon, the rocks are covered. The moral effect, if the tactics outlined are adhered to, would mean that the police would have demonstrators in front of them, behind them and, in fact, all around them. Not, as they would expect, an unruly mob which would be easy to control, but a firm, compact body, under iron discipline, acting on the strict instructions of the stewards. All pledged to non-violence, but willing and able to defend themselves against rioting policemen.
Should the police commence to riot, the number of violent policemen should be instantly sealed off, their numbers estimated and the same number of "defenders," plus 50 per cent should be sufficient to contain them. Any attempt by other policemen to go to their assistance should be blocked off by not less than three lines of "defenders." Women and children should be placed in positions of safety and well protected by men of strong physique. This should be organised in advance.
Placards of size of not more than eighteen inches by twenty inches should be carried by ALL members of march or demonstration even if there are no slogans on them. They should NOT have carrying poles. Instead, handles be screwed to the back of the placard holder, one handle large enough to pass an arm through and the second to ensure a firm grip with the hand. They can then be used as shields.
Unbroken line
Marchers on the right of the parade should carry their placards on their right arms; those on the left on their left arms. During an attack from the side all marchers on the particular side should turn in that direction; stand shoulder to shoulder and under no circumstances, repeat NO CIRCUMSTANCES, allow the line to be broken. Where gaps do occur, they should be filled instantly. The responsibility to protect women and children should outweigh all personal discomfort.
A first aid service should be available and casualties removed to a safe place and there treated.
All marchers should wear headgear of some description. It should be well padded with cloths or newspapers. Overcoats with well padded shoulders to minimise injury to backs and shoulders. Leather gloves should, if available, be worn.
Squad cars are easily taken of. A few pounds of one inch flat headed nails such as those used by slaters, scattered in front of the car, or cars, will render them immobile. Water cannons are similarly dealt with. Strips of tinfoil cut to the same length, in metres, as the radio aerial, if this can be ascertained, will render the car's radio useless.
Police dogs. A whiff of pepper across the dog's eyes will render the dog useless for police purposes ever after. Should a police dog, or indeed any other kind of dog, seize your arm, grip one of its paws at the toes, give them a good sharp squeeze, as in a shake hands, and the dog will release its grip. Here, too, the dog is rendered useless ever after for police purposes. All that is required in this case is that one should keep one's head and not struggle with the dog. Normally the dog is trained to grip a sleeve or a coat, and generally to terrify people. The remedy is simple and in keeping a cool head proceed as outlined above. 
It should be remembered that the number of policemen who appear to carry out a personal vendetta are not all all that numerous. The majority are decent enough. It's the overzealous that have to be watched for trouble. Another danger to be guarded against is the detective in plain clothes who mixes with the marchers, takes no active part in the police riot, but merely watches the proceedings from a safe distance and points out those who, in his opinion, are to be given "special treatment" later. Normally this function is allotted to the Special Branch who will form the subject of a special article, all to themselves, later.
Spotters
Policemen who are disarmed and have their batons from them have the cost of the baton deducted from their pay. State property must be accounted for - hence the reason for the deduction.
It cannot be too strongly emphasised that a strong, determined group of marchers or protesters are their own best defence. Police will not attack a parade attack a parade unless the chances of success are in their favour. If they do start to riot, special members of the parade should appointed to the exclusion of all else, to note district letters, known as Divisional areas, and the numbers on their uniforms where carried. At some future time, should there be an inquiry by the present, or better still, future government, the numbers recorded will be important. The letters and numbers should be taken by more than one marcher, for corroboration purposes. "Number spotters," therefore, should operate in pairs, at least.
Cameras are a weapon detested by the police. At present time. it will be noted that the daily press are carrying more and more reports of press photographers being attacked by the police. The reason for this is that a camera records, visually, the police brutality, and it thus cannot be denied. Special squads drawn from the marchers should carry cameras and be free to concentrate on this aspect of a police riot. They should operate in pairs and not be too far apart from each other. Where a photographer is attacked by the police, the happening should be recorded by the No. 2. man. It would be an advantage to have a photographer stationed in an upstairs window overlooking the scene, ready to "shoot", pictorially, the events below on the street.
Pictures should be handed to the press, later, and circulated to press agencies outside the country within the shortest possible space of time. This should be well organised. Albums of pictures should be prepared for a possible enquiry.
It does not have to be pointed out here that, valliant as were the efforts of the people of Derry and Armagh, that without the coverage of press and TV it is unlikely that opinion in this country, and more important, outside it, would have reached the heights that it did. The impact created was phenomenal. The press and TV coverage of the Mairin de Burca incident and her brutal treatment at the Dublin Pro-Cathedral became a national talking point and added more sympathy to protester's cause.
Volunteer photographers should be requested to carry their cameras at all marches and demonstrations. They should be distributed among the marchers and be ready with shitters cocked to record attacks. If this were given prior publicity it will be seen to be the most effective in the protester's armoury and far more efficacious than any offensive weapon. In fact, more often than not, it will be the sole means of ensuring a peaceful march or demonstration.
POINTS TO NOTE:
1.Careful briefing of all stewards and marchers.
2. Use placard as shields as well as slogan carriers
3. Always allow the police to start the trouble
4. NEVER allow the marchers to start trouble.
5. AVOID confrontations. Remember the parable of the incoming tide.
6. Always wear padded headgear and padded shoulders under a topcoat.
7. Never allow a line of defenders to be broken. Tо do so is fatal.
8. Policemen are not, repeat, NOT supermen.
9. There are only about 5,000 to 6,000 thousand policemen in the whole country. Many of the Dublin police have been on night duty and are not available for duty. Others are tied up on ordinary duties, and the total available for riot duty are less than half of the total. Many are too old for this kind of old for this kind of work and are left to "mind the house."
10. If you have to, use pерper on police dogs. Or the "shake hands" as outlined above.
11. Use flat headed nails against squad cars and water cannons but only when it's a matter of defence.
12. Careful reconnaissance of police barriers, and avoid them if at all possible.
13. Use as many routes as possible. This conceals the main march.
14. As many cameras as possible to be used.
15. "Number spotters" well organized to be used in evidence later.
16. Isolated policemen to be well taken care of and not be molested part from having their apart from having their braces removed. Trousers ready to a down is the best safeguard against further rioting by a policeman.
17. A GOOD AND STEADY BODY OF MARCHERS ARE THEIR OWN BEST DEFENCE AND ENSURES A PEACEFUL MARCH OR DEMONSTRATION.
