POMAN 1971 represents a textbook case of legal positivism—the idea that law is a command of the sovereign, separate from morality. Police officers who followed POMAN were acting within the letter of the law (MISA and the Emergency proclamation). However, the manual transformed law into an instrument of despotism. Legal scholar Upendra Baxi termed this the “Emergency jurisprudence of void,” arguing that POMAN effectively legalized what would otherwise be crimes against the state’s own citizens.
POMAN 1971 is widely credited with inventing the containment tactic later known as "kettling" (from the German Kessel – "cauldron"). The manual described “Encircling containment” as a non-violent way to control a volatile crowd: simply surround them and wait for their energy to dissipate. public order manual poman 1971
In theory, this prevented street battles. In practice, as seen during the 2009 G20 protests in London, it trapped peaceful protesters for hours without food, water, or toilets. Human rights courts later criticized this tactic as a form of false imprisonment. Yet, its origin lies squarely in POMAN 1971. POMAN 1971 represents a textbook case of legal
The manual standardized riot formation drills. Legal scholar Upendra Baxi termed this the “Emergency
POMAN 1971 was a "learning manual" written in the heat of conflict. Many of its tactics were deemed too aggressive or were refined over the subsequent decades.
To understand POMAN 1971, one must first erase the modern image of drones, rubber bullets, and social media. In 1971, the world was a powder keg of physical, face-to-face conflict.
All Rights Reserved © 2026 Sapphire Node Society. All rights reserved.
