Legal observers being searched just after people were released from this evening’s kettle at Panton Street.

People had to leave their names and addresses with the police – if they didn’t, they were arrested. Pretty clear that these kettles are an information-gathering exercise. Kettle lasted for a couple of hours. Those of us with press cards were permitted to enter and leave without having to give personal details (although names appear on press cards).

Otherwise – a weird few hours. Probably about 50 protestors, 20 members of the press who were able to come and go freely and about 300 coppers who didn’t look old enough to be out. Seemed like someone somewhere was desperate to tag a “Jesus – look at these radicals” story onto the 6pm strike day news. Snore.