The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) will carry out a review of the way police operations were organised and carried out at the Climate Camp demonstration last year.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has carried out an assessment of documents supplied to them by the Liberal Democrat Party, along with three referrals from Kent Police, in relation to the policing of the gathering at Kingsnorth in August.

The 23-page Lib Dem document covers some misconduct complaints - but most of the issues relate to tactics used by police, including allegations of sleep deprivation through officers playing loud music.

IPCC commissioner for the south east, Mike Franklin and regional director Derek Bradon, met with Kent’s Chief Constable Mike Fuller and the head of the force’s Professional Standards Department (PSD) Greg Barry to discuss the case.

Following the meeting, a decision was made to ask the NPIA to carry out a review of the police tactics used during the protest. Tactical issues are outside the jurisdiction of the IPCC.

In relation to the specific matters raised in the report which may be considered as misconduct, each has been looked at and carefully considered.

A decision has been made that the appropriate level of investigation can be carried out by Kent Police’s PSD.

Two further referrals, which are complaints from individuals, will also be dealt with by the force liaising directly with the complainants. In any of these cases, if the complainant is not satisfied, they can appeal to the IPCC.

Mr Franklin, said: "This was a large scale policing operation which has generated some criticism.

"One of the things the IPCC will be doing is looking at the effectiveness of the complaints system and whether there are lessons to be learned that can be shared with other forces who will deal with demonstrations in the future."