UK expert helps police 'manage tensions' at US protests

December 24, 2025

A psychology professor from Keele University in Staffordshire has been consulting with law enforcement in Portland, Oregon on managing protests and public demonstrations. Professor Clifford Stott's involvement comes after the city experienced extensive civil unrest during 2020 social justice protests, where police used force thousands of times and subsequently faced significant financial penalties from lawsuits. His research-based approach focuses on de-escalation tactics that protect protesters' rights while maintaining public order, particularly during demonstrations related to federal immigration enforcement activities.

Who is affected

Professor Clifford Stott from Keele University's School of Psychology
Portland Police Bureau and its officers
Protesters and demonstrators in Portland
Federal agents (who deployed tear gas)
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Portland residents and local governance authorities
Federal administration officials

What action is being taken

Professor Stott is advising and helping guide Portland police responses to protests
Professor Stott is helping develop a policing model for protests related to immigration enforcement operations
Portland Police Bureau is managing tensions outside ICE facilities using the new de-escalation approach
Local police are avoiding "amplificatory" actions during recent protests

Why it matters

This work is significant because it addresses the delicate balance between federal and local authority during a period of national political tension over immigration policy. The research-led policing model provides a framework that protects constitutional rights to protest while preventing the kind of violent escalation that previously cost Portland substantial sums in legal settlements and damaged community-police relations. The approach demonstrates how evidence-based strategies can help law enforcement maintain legitimacy and public order simultaneously, which has broader implications for police-community relations across democratic societies.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC