THE police tactic of “kettling” to confine protesters during public demonstrations is to be challenged at the High Court by a Birmingham student.

Leading the challenge is Bethany Shiner, daughter of a high-profile human rights lawyer, who was kettled during tuition fee protests last week.

Ms Shiner is launching proceedings against the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police after being detained on Thursday in Trafalgar Square.

She is the 23-year-old elder daughter of Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) solicitor Phil Shiner.

Ms Shiner and four sixth-form students, one of whom is a minor, are seeking a ruling that the use of kettling “as a standard response to protests” is unlawful. They complain they were detained for hours in sub-zero temperatures and not released until 7pm.

Birmingham-based PIL is applying for judicial review on their behalf, saying their treatment was “a matter of serious concern”.