Not much the cops could do without adequate numbers of them plus the proper equipment. Does Britain not have any water cannons, mounted police, rubber bullets, etc.?
Blame Gordon Brown and company for this. Unfortunately, we now have our own Gordon Brown in the White House.
British police have water cannons and mounted units. I’m not sure about rubber bullets though. They are extremely controversial in Britain because they were used in Northern Ireland during the troubles, and ended up killing people. I don’t even think they are authorised for use in mainland Britain...
I suspect it would have gone differently if there had been 100 or even 50 adequately equipped officers. But for these guys to stand their ground as is would have been more than stupid, it would have been suicide.