kettling

[ket-ling, ket-l-ing]

1. a crowd control technique, in which a line of police officers encircles demonstrators and confines them in a contained area known as a kettle.

   Coverage of the protests has focused on the controversial use of kettling.

Word History and Origins

Origin of kettling¹

First recorded in 2005–10; kettle ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

The ordinance would also require officers to give clear, audible warnings about safe exit routes during “kettling,” when crowds are pushed into designated areas by police.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Additionally, contemporary crowd-control tactics often result in “kettling,” in which protesters are pushed into densely confined areas, where individual bullets are likely to penetrate multiple people before stopping.

Read more on Slate

It creates a tiered system of protest response that prioritizes deescalation, while banning the NYPD’s practice of kettling, a controversial tactic that involves trapping and arresting large groups of demonstrators.

Read more on Washington Times

It would end the NYPD’s practice of trapping and arresting large groups of demonstrators, a controversial tactic known as kettling.

Read more on Seattle Times

In March, New York City agreed to pay $6 million, or $21,500 each, to about 300 protesters who were corralled by officers during the June 4 Mott Haven protest using a tactic known as kettling.

Read more on Washington Times