Correct from your perspective.
I don't think it was used when the gathering was peaceful unless it was area denial. I think there's some or all of property damage, arson, looting, arming and throwing, before they use those tools.
Interested to see a video with context from the current unrest where that's not the case.
By hand to hand, I mean the stuff that happens when police and gatherers engage at close quarters.
There's lots of these scenes from the HK unrest. it basically is hand-to-hand combat with batons like I said.