Parents warned on protest dangers for student children

Speaking ahead of a second day of national student protests planned for tomorrow, thehead of the Metropolitan Police's public order branch Commander Bob Broadhurst urged parents to talk to their children about the "potential dangers" of getting involved.

He added: "Schoolchildren have as much right as anyone else to protest, but young people are more vulnerable and likely to be injured if violence breaks out."

Last week 35 people were arrested and seven police officers injured after violence broke out during protests in London.

Policing Minister Nick Herbert said yesterday that officers had been right to use "kettling" tactics after thousands of protesters, including many school pupils, where held for about four hours in Whitehall.

Students who have occupied a Leeds University lecture hall in protest against the planned tuition fee increase and education funding cuts have vowed to remain in the building "at least" until the day of action.

A group of around 100 students have occupied the Michael Sadler building since Wednesdaylast week. The students are expected to carry out marches and protest outside banks in Leeds tomorrow.

Tuition fees could be set to treble as a result of cuts to university teaching budgets. Universities Minister David Willetts added to the pressure facing Liberal Democrats on the issue yesterday when he said that Business Secretary Vince Cable was committed to the plan.

Liberal Democrats campaigned to have tuition fees scrapped before the election with MPs signing pledges to vote against any increase.

Mr Willetts said he was confident Mr Cable would back the plan but refused to be drawn on whether he expected Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and other Lib Dem ministers to follow suit.