A police baton charge in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2001

A baton charge is a coordinated tactic for violent crowd dispersal, and is generally practiced by the police or military in the appropriate situation. In certain countries, law enforcement agencies are not authorised to use the tactic unless no other means can be practiced.

Police officers (in some cases soldiers) are provided with batons, and in some cases riotshields. They charge at the crowd hitting pre-designated targets with their batons, and in certain situations push them away with their shields. Baton charging is designed to cause the maximum amount of pain to the offenders, with the theory that they would be compelled to move away from the scene. As a general practice during baton charges, the police concentrate on a group who are blatantly offending, and in some circumstances the police strike the largest target presented, meaning that the head and vital organ areas should never be struck unless the offender is an immediate threat to life. As a matter of course, individuals are allowed to escape to prevent serious injury.

[edit] India

In India, a baton would often be referred to as a lathi. Some Indian police forces use lathis around 5 ft long, but in other places lathis are shorter. The term "lathi charge" is used by the Indian media more commonly than "baton charge". The lathi drill is taught to all Indian police recruits. The tactic is controversial among human rights campaigners due to the violence involved.

[edit] See also

• Snatch squad
• Riot control

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