How Britain’s political policing makes itself known
It’s not everyday you make the front page of the Guardian newspaper, see a picture of yourself reflected back from the news stands, looking frankly the worse for wear, under the heading of domestic extremism.
I was one of he 24 people pictured on the confidential spotter card used by police on demonstrations to identify ‘known troublemakers’ that was published, without peoples knowledge or consent, by the paper attached to the headline article on how the police target, respond to and counter political activists.
To be fair I was already aware of the small laminated card in question having seen it at the time, acquired as it was during the Dsei arms fair protests back in 2005. What the card does hint at, and what the Guardian was attempting clumsily to reveal, is the level and depth of surveillance of Britain’s secret policing and the various organisations behind it. Below we list the most recognisble ones:
FIT Forward Intelligence Teams – the footsoldiers and most visible representation of police intelligence gathering. Mostly made up of ordinary constables and recognisable by protestors as having bright blue shoulder markings across their shoulders protecting an intrusion photographer.
ACPO Association of Chief Police Officers’ is an independent, professionally led strategic body that coordinates the direction and development of the police service in the UK. The top of the (acknowledged) secret policing pile.
NPOIU National Public Order Intelligence Unit based in central London and answerable to ACPO it employs between 60 and 70 police officers and staff seconded from local police forces. Has an intelligence database that is used in relation to politically motivated disorder co-ordinating the collection, analysis, exploitation and dissemination of intelligence on the extremist threat to public order, covering animal rights, environmental, left and right wing threats. Its annual budget is £5 million.
NETCU National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit funded by, and reporting to ACPO it helps police forces, companies, universities and other bodies that are on the receiving end of protest campaigns, giving “security advice, risk assessments and information that can minimise disruption and keep their employees safe”. A 16-strong unit with detailed files on protest groups, rather than individuals, and liaises with thousands of companies in aviation, energy, research, farming and retail.
NDET National Domestic Extremism Team sister organisation to NETCU set up in 2005 and consists of detectives who help police forces around the UK co-ordinate operations and investigations into criminal activities associated with ‘domestic extremism’. Initially focusing on animal rights activists, expanded to cover single issue-type causes and campaigns. Draws on intelligence from the NPOIU database.
Much of the legality of intelligence gathering techniques of these organisations have yet to be tested in court given that ACPO is essentially a private company operating within the police network, unaccountable and certainly not bound by the rules governing police duties and operations meaning they exempt from freedom of information laws and public accountability, even though they are funded by the Home Office and deploy police officers from regional forces.
