Police target activists, monitor and infiltrate groups

**scissorhands** · 25th November 2009, 09:15

I googled' infiltrate groups 'and found either a lot of paranoia or a scourge on the full time protest movement

The Guardian (One of the UK's leading newspapers), October 25, 2009
Posted: 2009-10-31 19:09:09
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oc...mists-database

Police are gathering the personal details of thousands of activists who attend political meetings and protests, and storing their data on a network of nationwide intelligence databases. The hidden apparatus has been constructed to monitor "domestic extremists". Detailed information about the political activities of campaigners is being stored on a number of overlapping IT systems, even if they have not committed a crime. Senior officers say domestic extremism, a term coined by police that has no legal basis, can include activists suspected of minor public order offences such as peaceful direct action and civil disobedience. Three national police units responsible for combating domestic extremism are run by the "terrorism and allied matters" committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo). In total, it receives £9m in public funding, from police forces and the Home Office, and employs a staff of 100. The main unit, the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU), runs a central database which lists thousands of so-called domestic extremists. It filters intelligence supplied by police forces across England and Wales, which routinely deploy surveillance teams at protests, rallies and public meetings. Vehicles associated with protesters are being tracked via a nationwide system of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. Police surveillance units, known as Forward Intelligence Teams (FIT) and Evidence Gatherers, record footage and take photographs of campaigners as they enter and leave openly advertised public meetings. Surveillance officers are provided with "spotter cards" used to identify the faces of target individuals who police believe are at risk of becoming involved in domestic extremism. Targets include high-profile activists regularly seen taking part in protests.

**Ixion** · 25th November 2009, 09:29

The UK is now the most fascist state in t he Western world. Here in NZ we aren't quite down at their level, yet (though the government are working hard on it )

**Sidewinder** · 25th November 2009, 09:32

just when i thought there was a thread not about acc

**Oscar** · 25th November 2009, 09:48

Originally Posted by scissorhands

I googled' infiltrate groups 'and found either a lot of paranoia or a scourge on the full time protest movement

The Guardian (One of the UK's leading newspapers), October 25, 2009
Posted: 2009-10-31 19:09:09
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oc...mists-database

Police are gathering the personal details of thousands of activists who attend political meetings and protests, and storing their data on a network of nationwide intelligence databases. The hidden apparatus has been constructed to monitor "domestic extremists". Detailed information about the political activities of campaigners is being stored on a number of overlapping IT systems, even if they have not committed a crime. Senior officers say domestic extremism, a term coined by police that has no legal basis, can include activists suspected of minor public order offences such as peaceful direct action and civil disobedience. Three national police units responsible for combating domestic extremism are run by the "terrorism and allied matters" committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo). In total, it receives £9m in public funding, from police forces and the Home Office, and employs a staff of 100. The main unit, the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU), runs a central database which lists thousands of so-called domestic extremists. It filters intelligence supplied by police forces across England and Wales, which routinely deploy surveillance teams at protests, rallies and public meetings. Vehicles associated with protesters are being tracked via a nationwide system of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. Police surveillance units, known as Forward Intelligence Teams (FIT) and Evidence Gatherers, record footage and take photographs of campaigners as they enter and leave openly advertised public meetings. Surveillance officers are provided with "spotter cards" used to identify the faces of target individuals who police believe are at risk of becoming involved in domestic extremism. Targets include high-profile activists regularly seen taking part in protests.

Try googling 7/7/2005.

**scissorhands** · 25th November 2009, 10:13

Originally Posted by Ixion

The UK is now the most fascist state in t he Western world. Here in NZ we aren't quite down at their level, yet (though the government are working hard on it )

No moles here on KB?

**Ixion** · 25th November 2009, 10:14

Pretty sure there are, but not at the depth or level of sophistication of the UK.

**MisterD** · 25th November 2009, 10:27

Do you all know who Mark Thomas is?

Well he's on the list.

**klingon** · 25th November 2009, 10:34

Of course this happens in New Zealand! You would have to be very naive to think it doesn't.

On the other hand when you're posting stuff on a public forum you hardly need the police (or anyone else) to 'infiltrate' it. All they need to do is log on like the rest of us!

Oh, and don't think things you say in a 'private' part of this site are safe either. It doesn't take very sophisticated hacking skills to get hold of everyone's PMs, the content of social groups, etc.

For many years now the police have been attending protests with video cameras to help them identify people in the crowds. These days they barely need to do that because we all do it on their behalf. All sorts of people take photos and videos and post them all over the internet, so even if the police videographer's battery went flat he wouldn't need to worry. He would just log into YouTube when he got back to the office and see what we had all helpfully posted up for him.

Just think of everything you say as being said in public and you will have the right idea.

**Ronin** · 25th November 2009, 10:37

Was fascinating to see a DPS member to left of stage at parliament reach into his pocket, remove a small cam and snap a pic of someone just as we all started to leave.

**scissorhands** · 25th November 2009, 10:43

RIGHT NOW police outside with a dog, stolen Subaru on the footpath, driver gone or a runner or hiding somewhere very near....hhhmmm very topical

**CookMySock** · 25th November 2009, 12:30

Who gives a rats bum if they follow us. Just go do as you please. Just stay legal.

Whenever I fuck the pigs off, I make a point of splitting past and riding at 45k riiiiiiight back to the police station in front of them. Fucked off, much? Bugger.

Steve

**wbks** · 25th November 2009, 12:35

Originally Posted by Ixion

The UK is now the most fascist state in t he Western world. Here in NZ we aren't quite down at their level, yet (though the government are working hard on it )

Is it really such a bad move considering how recent a major terrorist attack on the UK was?