It's The Wolf!

Possible powerful protest police panic potential

Britain may face a summer of rage, according to the head of the Metropolitan Police's demonstrator control division.

Superintendent David Hartshorn warned the country's leading liberal newspaper that the economic downturn could cause severe public anger despite the Government's attempts to save the people who matter.

Political activists "intent on coming on to the streets to create public disorder" would be able to provoke a dangerous degree of middle-class irritation in people who lost their jobs, homes or savings and would otherwise march onto workfare with a song in their hearts, Hartshorn implied.

Hartshorn also said that the spirit of many demonstrations had changed from waving banners to creating disorder, in spite of the consistently salutory effect which waving banners has had on Government policy.

He warned of hardcore green activists "joining forces" with Guardian readers and other potentially real people to form powerful coalitions which could cause police increasing difficulties in maintaining law and order.