by Adam Williams

Kent University student Aaron Kiely was among hundreds caught in the middle of student demonstrations at Westminster before and after last Thursday’s commons vote.

The 21-year-old criminology and social policy undergraduate was "kettled" by police in Parliament Square for more than eight hours, a tactic employed to contain and surround protesters to control a situation.

He said: "The protest started peacefully and I joined the march at Trafalgar Square at 1.30pm, with many other Kent University students, for the short journey to parliament.

"The atmosphere was wholly positive as we arrived and we wanted to get as close as we could in the hope MPs would hear our chants from inside.

"After an hour or so, a group of us decided to go and get a bite to eat and return to whatever action was taking place later.

"But, as we went to leave, we found we had been 'kettled' by police and all exits were sealed.

"We were denied access to food, water, shelter and freedom, as well as clean sanitation, despite the police and media portraying that they were available."

As time went on, protesters remained contained in the "kettle" and Aaron witnessed students, some younger than 16, being hit by police truncheons and riot shields.

He was hit three times himself by a police truncheon and kicked as a group tried to push their way out towards Whitehall.

He added: "Seeing young students, who have been 'kettled', treated inhumanely and stained by their own blood is an appalling sight and something I would never wish anyone to see.

"I felt as an older protester, I had a duty to protect those we had encouraged to come on the march.

"The people at that demonstration could’ve been my 19-year-old sister protesting against her EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance) being cut or my 15-year-old cousin, who dreamed of going to university, but could never pay off their £9,000 a year fees.

"The vast and overwhelming majority of people were armed with words, not weapons, not truncheons, not riot shields and definitely not heavy duty protective clothing and specialist helmets.

"The brutality of the police at this demonstration has to be exposed for what it is, absolutely despicable."

Aaron and the rest of the protesters were eventually released from the kettle at 10.55pm, but only after they had been held on Westminster Bridge for more than an hour and ordered to walk towards Waterloo station.