Liberate

The keys to using hit and run tactics are:

A high level of mobility (good running shoes)
Good knowledge of the terrain (scope the area well)
Ability for fast decision making (oh shit cops run!)
Knowing when to disengage and disperse (hmm will the security guard notice us)

An interesting example of swarm came when activists decided to hassle the Queen St McDonalds in 2005. At a prearranged time, dozens of activists converged almost simultaneously on the McDonalds and began a rowdy occupation – yelling and generally having a good time. Unfortunately, the police turned up after about 20 minutes and began arresting people on sight. Clearly, knowing when to run away could have been useful in these circumstances.

If swarm tactics were being used the activists would have kept an eye on the police numbers and would have left the restaurant as soon as police began massing. They could have then moved on to do other protests around Auckland, as the group had decided. This ability to disengage far before the battle turns against the activists frustrates the police and helps everyone get away. For it to work, everyone has to leave at the same time so stragglers can’t be picked off one by one by cops.

Another example is the home demo. Activists all turn up outside and an animal abusing scumbag’s house at an early hour of the morning and inform them and their neighbours that torturing animals for a living is evil. Then before the cops turn up everyone hops back in their cars and heads home.

Working in our favor is the fact that radios and scanners are cheaply available and easy to use. With the use of one or two well disguised lookouts it is possible to carry out actions right in the heart of the city and still have no arrests. Note though that cell phones while useful for organizing meetups and warning people are incredibly easy to monitor. Don’t make the cops jobs any easier and avoid cell phones wherever possible.

So remember move fast, act decisively and look for the easiest place to strike. With any luck you should be able to carry out your action before the police are even able to decide how to respond let alone get enough police to arrest the activists involved.