National Domestic Extremism Database - Revision history

Eveline: /* Open source intelligence gathering */

2016-04-25T11:10:44Z

Open source intelligence gathering

Peter Salmon at 10:54, 8 January 2016

2016-01-08T10:54:39Z

Peter Salmon at 13:23, 7 May 2015

2015-05-07T13:23:17Z

Peter Salmon at 12:59, 7 May 2015

2015-05-07T12:59:02Z

Peter Salmon at 11:29, 27 March 2015

2015-03-27T11:29:31Z

Peter Salmon at 12:34, 4 March 2015

2015-03-04T12:34:53Z

Peter Salmon at 12:12, 4 March 2015

2015-03-04T12:12:56Z

Melissa Jones: minor tweak

2015-02-05T03:55:26Z

minor tweak

Melissa Jones: /* Where does the intelligence come from? Sources of information */ typo

2015-02-05T03:49:48Z

Where does the intelligence come from? Sources of information: typo

Melissa Jones: /* Open source intelligence gathering */ typo

2015-02-05T03:48:52Z

Open source intelligence gathering: typo

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 NETCU provided an 'open source gathering service between 2004-2010, taking material from websites and mainstream media for the database.<ref name="acpo.ncde" />
-In May 2013 [[Umut Ertogal]], the 'head of open source intelligence with the UK Police National Domestic Extremism Unit', revealed in a private report to the Australian police (then preparing for the Brisbane G20 Summit), that the unit used a software tool called SOCMINT to monitor social media sites to gauge public mood.<ref name="wired.1">Paul Wright, [http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/26/socmint Meet Prism's little brother: Socmint], ''Wired'', 26 June 2013, accessed 26 August 2014.</ref> It was apparently extensively used during the London 2012 Olympics and for 'predicting hotspots during the 2010 student protests' - including a call for a protest against a visit of Prime Minister David Cameron to King's Cross railway station that resulted in the arrests of 10 people.<ref>Andrew Colley, [http://www.theaustralian.com.au/technology/afp-seeks-social-media-monitoring-tools/story-fn4htb9o-1226649214353?nk=e129a8502b18ef77364700c65e2b0e74 AFP seeks social media monitoring tools], ''The Australian'', 23 May 2013, accessed 26 August 2014, paywalled.</ref> It was also revealed that at the time, SOCMINT (which stands for 'Social Media Intelligence', a name given to this open source intelligence gathering technique<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media_intelligence Social media intelligence], ''Wikipedia'', undated, accessed 26 August 2014.</ref>) it was being run by a staff of 17 people working around the clock, scanning Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and other public forums used by UK citizens.<ref name="wired.1" /> Ertogral reportedly said that YouTube effectively acted as CCTV and Google Glasses were 'another channel for us to explore and look at'.<ref>Aman Jain, [http://www.valuewalk.com/2013/05/google-glass-may-help-in-investigations-u-k-police/ Google Glass May Help In Investigations: U.K. Police ], ''ValueWalk.com'', 23 May 2013, accessed 26 August 2014.</ref>
+In May 2013 [[Umut Ertogral]], the 'head of open source intelligence with the UK Police National Domestic Extremism Unit', revealed in a private report to the Australian police (then preparing for the Brisbane G20 Summit), that the unit used a software tool called SOCMINT to monitor social media sites to gauge public mood.<ref name="wired.1">Paul Wright, [http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/26/socmint Meet Prism's little brother: Socmint], ''Wired'', 26 June 2013, accessed 26 August 2014.</ref> It was apparently extensively used during the London 2012 Olympics and for 'predicting hotspots during the 2010 student protests' - including a call for a protest against a visit of Prime Minister David Cameron to King's Cross railway station that resulted in the arrests of 10 people.<ref>Andrew Colley, [http://www.theaustralian.com.au/technology/afp-seeks-social-media-monitoring-tools/story-fn4htb9o-1226649214353?nk=e129a8502b18ef77364700c65e2b0e74 AFP seeks social media monitoring tools], ''The Australian'', 23 May 2013, accessed 26 August 2014, paywalled.</ref> It was also revealed that at the time, SOCMINT (which stands for 'Social Media Intelligence', a name given to this open source intelligence gathering technique<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media_intelligence Social media intelligence], ''Wikipedia'', undated, accessed 26 August 2014.</ref>) it was being run by a staff of 17 people working around the clock, scanning Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and other public forums used by UK citizens.<ref name="wired.1" /> Ertogral reportedly said that YouTube effectively acted as CCTV and Google Glasses were 'another channel for us to explore and look at'.<ref>Aman Jain, [http://www.valuewalk.com/2013/05/google-glass-may-help-in-investigations-u-k-police/ Google Glass May Help In Investigations: U.K. Police ], ''ValueWalk.com'', 23 May 2013, accessed 26 August 2014.</ref>
 ==  Blacklisting and exchange of information ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:54, 8 January 2016
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	The string of police units dealing with spying on political groups sometimes had their own separate files, which has added to the confusion. It would appear that there were a number of separate databases initially, but that over time through organisational restructuring and increased integration of IT systems that these were merged. In 2014, it was disclosed in court during the John Catt case (see below), that what is commonly referred to as the National Domestic Extremism Database now forms part of the [[National Special Branch Intelligence System]] (NSBIS) which was developed under the aegis of the [[National Co-ordinator for Special Branch]].		The string of police units dealing with spying on political groups sometimes had their own separate files, which has added to the confusion. It would appear that there were a number of separate databases initially, but that over time through organisational restructuring and increased integration of IT systems that these were merged. In 2014, it was disclosed in court during the John Catt case (see below), that what is commonly referred to as the National Domestic Extremism Database now forms part of the [[National Special Branch Intelligence System]] (NSBIS) which was developed under the aegis of the [[National Co-ordinator for Special Branch]].
		+
		+	In January 2016 ''The Guardian'' revealed that a whistleblower from the Domestic Extremism unit, DS David Williams, had written a letter to Jenny Jones, deputy chair of the body overseeing the Metropolitan Police. In it he stated that the unit had been involved in a systemic destruction of records as part of an illegal cover up to suppress the extent to which they had been spying on her.<ref>Rob Evans, [http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jan/08/officer-claims-met-police-improperly-destroyed-files-on-green-party-peer Officer claims Met police improperly destroyed files on Green party peer], ''The Guardian'', 8 January 2016 (accessed 8 January 2016).</ref>

	See also:		See also:

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-{{Police_Unit_sidebar_(URG)|Series=Domestic Extremism|Name=National Domestic Extremism Database|Alias=National Special Branch Information System (NSBIS)|Parents=[[National Public Order Intelligence Unit]], [[National Domestic Extremism Unit]]|SubUnits=none|Targets=[[Domestic Extremism]]|Dates=circa 1999 to present}}
+{{Police_Unit_sidebar_(URG)|Series=Domestic Extremism|Name=National Domestic Extremism Database|Alias=National Special Branch Intelligence System (NSBIS)|Parents=[[National Public Order Intelligence Unit]], [[National Domestic Extremism Unit]]|SubUnits=none|Targets=[[Domestic Extremism]]|Dates=circa 1999 to present}}
 The '''National Domestic Extremism Database''' is a police database of individuals who have been associated with [[Domestic Extremism| domestic extremism]] and protest, including public disorder.
-The term Domestic Extremism is often used to distinguish so-called single issue campaigns or political groups with a militant edge from terrorist groups, and criminal activity was used as a nominator. However, the subsequent [[National Domestic Extremism Unit| police units dealing with domestic extremism]] spied on political groups without a [[Domestic Extremism| proper definition]] of what it entailed, the information stored in the National Domestic Extremism Database is just as wide-ranging and eclectic.
+The term Domestic Extremism is often used to distinguish so-called single issue campaigns or political groups with a militant edge from terrorist groups, and criminal activity was used as a nominator. However, the subsequent [[National Domestic Extremism Unit| police units dealing with domestic extremism]] spied on political groups without a [[Domestic Extremism| proper definition]] of what it entailed and the information stored in the National Domestic Extremism Database is wide-ranging and eclectic.
 The existence of the database was revealed in October 2009  in a series of articles by ''the Guardian''.<ref name="guardian.2009.10.25">Paul Lewis, Rob Evans &amp; Vikram Dodd, [http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/oct/25/police-domestic-extremists-database Police in £9m scheme to log 'domestic extremists'], ''The Guardian'', 25 October 2009. Accessed 26 December 2013.</ref> It has come under criticism for storing details of protestors who have had no involvement in criminal activities, their details being recorded for having attended otherwise lawful demonstrations and gatherings. Others included in the database were journalists<ref name="ponsford.1">Dominic Ponsford, [http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/six-journalists-sue-met-police-over-surveillance-and-intelligence-files-kept-domestic-extremism ], ''Press Gazette'', 20 November 2014, accessed 27 January 2015.</ref> and politicians.<ref>Rob Evans, [http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/undercover-with-paul-lewis-and-rob-evans/2014/jun/19/undercover-police-and-policing-peter-francis Police say they have not counted how many politicians they have been monitoring], ''The Guardian'', 19 June 2014, accessed 27 January 2015.</ref>
-Because of its secrecy, little is known about the database. The string of police units dealing with spying on political groups also sometimes had their own databases, which only adds to the confusion. These pages put together the findings of investigative journalism, requests under the [[Freedom of Information Act]] and the [[Data Protection Act]] and the finecombing of official reviews and interviews with activists, presenting an overview of what is currently known about the National Domestic Extremism Database.
+Because of its secrecy, little is known about the database. These pages put together the findings of investigative journalism, requests under the [[Freedom of Information Act]] and the [[Data Protection Act]] and the fine-combing of official reviews and interviews with activists, presenting an overview of what is currently known about the National Domestic Extremism Database.
-Also see:
+The string of police units dealing with spying on political groups sometimes had their own separate files, which has added to the confusion. It would appear that there were a number of separate databases initially, but that over time through organisational restructuring and increased integration of IT systems that these were merged. In 2014, it was disclosed in court during the John Catt case (see below), that what is commonly referred to as the National Domestic Extremism Database now forms part of the [[National Special Branch Intelligence System]] (NSBIS) which was developed under the aegis of the [[National Co-ordinator for Special Branch]].
 * '''[[National Domestic Extremism Database: Resistance and legal challenges]]''' for an overview of people who requested their file.
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 ==Origins and ownership==
-Today the database is managed by the [[National Public Order Intelligence Unit]] (NPOIU) within the [[National Domestic Extremism Unit]] (NDEU) (since renamed the National Domestic Extremism and Disorder Intelligence Unit). Except for the period 2006-2011 when the units were under the control of the [[Association of Chief Police Officers]] (ACPO), the database has been managed by the [[Metropolitan Police Service]]. Initially this was as part of [[Special Branch]] (1999-2006), and latterly, since January 2012, within [[Counter Terrorism Command]]. It has since emerged that the database is part of the [[National Special Branch Information System]] (NSBIS).
+Originally the database appears to have been managed by the [[National Public Order Intelligence Unit]] (NPOIU) which was subsequently merged within the [[National Domestic Extremism Unit]] (NDEU) (since renamed the National Domestic Extremism and Disorder Intelligence Unit). Thus, except for the period 2006-2011 when the units were under the control of the [[Association of Chief Police Officers]] (ACPO), the database has been managed by the [[Metropolitan Police Service]]. Initially these units were part of [[Special Branch]] (1999-2006), and latterly, since January 2012, within [[Counter Terrorism Command]]. It has since emerged that the database is part of the [[National Special Branch Intelligence System]] (NSBIS).
 The database began as the [[Animal Rights National Index]] (ARNI), a project of Special Branch which had been assembling information related to animal rights activism during the 1980s and 1990s. After a period within the [[National Criminal Intelligence Service]], it was passed in 1999 to the [[National Public Order Intelligence Unit]] (NPOIU). The NPOIU had been set up to gather information on protest movements on a national level, particularly animal rights, but also environmentalism and other active left-wing movements. As the NPOIU incorporated both the [[Northern Intelligence Units| Northern]] and [[Southern Intelligence Units]] which focused on Travellers, the free party scene and various  protests, it is likely that such information would also have been incorporated, especially where there was a cross-over of individuals across different forms of activism.
-In 2003, the HMIC review of Special Branch (entitled 'A Need To Know') pointed out serious shortcomings in the National Special Branch Intelligence System (NSBIS). To overcome this, [[ACPO TAM]] was setting up NSBIS2 through the National Special Branch Technology Unit.<ref>David Blakey, [http://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic/media/a-need-to-know-20030101.pdf A Need to Know], ''HM Inspectorate of Constabulary'', January 2003.</ref> ACPO TAM's technical advisor in this was [[Graham Broom]]<ref>[http://www.computing.co.uk/ctg/news/1826339/special-branch-it-inadequate Special Branch IT 'inadequate'], ''Computing'', 29 January 2003, accessed 14 December 2015.</ref> of Cambridgeshire police, who would also play a role in the IT systems of the National Domestic Extremism Unit later. NSBIS aimed to 'afford the sharing of terrorist/extremist intelligence across the UK',<ref>Chief Constable William Rae, QPM, [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200405/ldselect/ldeucom/53/4102702.htm Memorandum to the Select Committee on European Union], ''Association of Chief Police Officers of Scotland'', 9 September 2004, accessed 27 January 2015.</ref> though it appears that in 2012 forces were still just integrating with it.<ref>[http://www.aspola.org.uk/cache/PDF/Document6643_703264.pdf Report of the Chief Constable - Strategic Alliances], ''Avon and Somerset Police Authority'', 28 March 2012, accessed 27 September 2015.</ref><ref>A number of online sources indicate that closely associated with NSBIS is the secure messaging system known as Cluster.</ref> It has also emerged that the NSBIS database has the codename 'Fairway'.<ref name="matteson.1">Jules Matteson, [http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/medianews/article4263693.ece Journalists named on secret files, police admit], ''The Times'', 11 November 2014, accessed 27 January 2015.</ref>
+In 2003, the HMIC review of Special Branch (entitled 'A Need To Know') pointed out serious shortcomings in the National Special Branch Intelligence System (NSBIS). To overcome this, [[Association of Chief Police Officers (Terrorism and Allied Matters|ACPO TAM]] was setting up NSBIS2 through the National Special Branch Technology Unit.<ref>David Blakey, [http://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic/media/a-need-to-know-20030101.pdf A Need to Know], ''HM Inspectorate of Constabulary'', January 2003.</ref> ACPO TAM's technical advisor in this was [[Graham Broom]]<ref>[http://www.computing.co.uk/ctg/news/1826339/special-branch-it-inadequate Special Branch IT 'inadequate'], ''Computing'', 29 January 2003, accessed 14 December 2015.</ref> of Cambridgeshire police, who would also play a role in the IT systems of the National Domestic Extremism Unit later. NSBIS aimed to 'afford the sharing of terrorist/extremist intelligence across the UK',<ref>Chief Constable William Rae, QPM, [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200405/ldselect/ldeucom/53/4102702.htm Memorandum to the Select Committee on European Union], ''Association of Chief Police Officers of Scotland'', 9 September 2004, accessed 27 January 2015.</ref> though it appears that in 2012 forces were still just integrating with it.<ref>[http://www.aspola.org.uk/cache/PDF/Document6643_703264.pdf Report of the Chief Constable - Strategic Alliances], ''Avon and Somerset Police Authority'', 28 March 2012, accessed 27 September 2015.</ref><ref>A number of online sources indicate that closely associated with NSBIS is the secure messaging system known as Cluster.</ref> It has also emerged that the NSBIS database has the codename 'Fairway'.<ref name="matteson.1">Jules Matteson, [http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/medianews/article4263693.ece Journalists named on secret files, police admit], ''The Times'', 11 November 2014, accessed 27 January 2015.</ref>
 In 2006, the NPOIU was moved under the control of the National Coordinator Domestic Extremism (NCDE), placed alongside the [[National Extremism Tactical Coordination Unit]] (NETCU) and the [[National Domestic Extremism Team]]. In 2011, the three were merged into the [[National Domestic Extremism Unit]] (NDEU), since renamed the National Domestic Extremism and Disorder Intelligence Unit (NDEDIU).
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 Since it existence was revealed by ''The Guardian'' there has been some confusion about the database, mainly caused by the Met refering to it by different names, such as 'domestic extremism database' or 'NPOIU database'. In particular, in a response to a 2013 FOIA request the Metropolitan Police explicitly mentioned the 'National Domestic Extremism Database' which only personel from the National Domestic Extremism Unit have access to.<ref name="wdtk.1">Metropolitan Police Service, [https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/foi_npoiu FOI-NPOIU - Response to a FOIA request of Kyle Byrnes], ''WhatDoTheyKnow.com'', 7 January 2013, accessed 10 September 2014.</ref> Adding to the confusion is that reports from HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in 2012 refer simply to a NDEU database,<ref name="hmic.2012"/> though their 2013 report seems to acknowledge it as the NSBIS.<ref name="hmic.2013"/>
-Likewise during the December 2014 Supreme Court hearing in the case bought by John Catt, the barrister for the  Metropolitan Police confirmed that the domestic extremism database was the same as the NSBIS, though it was pointed out that it had been consistantly referred to as the 'domestic extremism database' in all previous case hearings.<ref name="catt.day3">[https://netpol.org/2014/12/04/supreme-court-dec-2014-day-3/ Day 3 of the John Catt ‘domestic extremism’ Supreme Court hearing], ''The Network for Police Monitoring (NetPol)'', 4 December 2014, accessed 15 January 2015.</ref>
+Likewise during the December 2014 Supreme Court hearing in the case bought by John Catt, the barrister for the  Metropolitan Police confirmed that the domestic extremism database was the same as the NSBIS, though it was pointed out that it had been consistently referred to as the 'domestic extremism database' in all previous case hearings.<ref name="catt.day3">[https://netpol.org/2014/12/04/supreme-court-dec-2014-day-3/ Day 3 of the John Catt ‘domestic extremism’ Supreme Court hearing], ''The Network for Police Monitoring (NetPol)'', 4 December 2014, accessed 15 January 2015.</ref>
 It remains to be clarified if there is a separate part of the NSBIS which can be specifically identified as the 'domestic extremism database'.
-And although the Metropolitan Police Special Branch division was abolished in 2006, there was still intelligence coming in that needed to be stored: other forces nationally continued to have their own Special Branch units, while the Counter Terrorism Command (CTC / SO15) CTC still had responsibility for the investigation of domestic extremism.
+Material which was stored by the [[Special Demonstration Squad]] was, on its disbandment in 2008, amalgamated into an Metropolitan Police IT system and not kept as a standalone database according to the Metropolitan Police.<ref >[https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/info_re_sds_database#incoming-269126 Response to a FOIA request by Emily Apple (ref: 2012020000210)], ''Metropolitan Police Service'', 29 March 2012, accessed 31 August 2014.</ref> It is not know which system this was.
 [[File:Jenny Jones NDED file 1.jpg|thumb|350px|Excerpt from a page of Baroness Jenny Jones' file.]]

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 * Some entries provide personal details such as addresses, phone number, email and date-of-birth and descriptions of appearance and clothes; while others cite the individual a person of interest for being connected to a campaign.
-* The criminal convictions are just mentioned at people's entries; full details remain on the Police National Computer.<ref >[https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/interconnectivity_between_the_nd#incoming-464831 Response to a FOIA request by David Cinzano], ''Metropolitan \Police Service'', 27 December 2013, accessed 31 August 2014.</ref>
+* The criminal convictions are just mentioned at people's entries; full details remain on the Police National Computer.<ref >[https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/interconnectivity_between_the_nd#incoming-464831 Response to a FOIA request by David Cinzano], ''Metropolitan Police Service'', 27 December 2013, accessed 31 August 2014.</ref>
 ===Information stored - actually ===
@@ Line 94: / Line 94: @@
 * While the NDEU claimed it did not focus on those who protested peacefully and lawfully, and was instead concerned with those who committed criminal offences,<ref name="acpo.ncde">[http://www.acpo.police.uk/ncde/ National Co-ordinator Domestic Extremism, Frequently Asked Questions], ''Association of Chief Police Officers'', undated (internal evidence indicates it was modified around 2011), archived by Undercover Research Group.</ref>, it is clear that at least some of them such as Jenny Jones, John Catt, Ian Driver had no criminal convictions.
-* A number of journalists have also found their names on the database too.<ref name="mark.thomas.nuj">Mark Thomas, [http://www.nuj.org.uk/news/help-the-nuj-expose-the-monitoring-of-journalists/ Help the NUJ expose the monitoring of journalists], ''National Union of Journalists'', 20 November 2013, accessed 10 September.</ref><ref>Oscar Webb, [http://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2015/03/24/oscar-webb/am-i-on-the-domestic-extremist-database/
+* A number of journalists have also found their names on the database too.<ref name="mark.thomas.nuj">Mark Thomas, [http://www.nuj.org.uk/news/help-the-nuj-expose-the-monitoring-of-journalists/ Help the NUJ expose the monitoring of journalists], ''National Union of Journalists'', 20 November 2013, accessed 10 September.</ref><ref>Oscar Webb, [http://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2015/03/24/oscar-webb/am-i-on-the-domestic-extremist-database/ Am I on the domestic extremist database?], ''London Review of Books'', 24 March 2015 (accessed 25 March 2015).</ref>
 ===Misinformation stored as well ===
@@ Line 157: / Line 156: @@
 [[David Howarth]], the Liberal MP, said of the NPOIU in 2009 that it 'operates as a giant database of political activists'.<ref name="guardian.26.10.2009" /> Five years later, following the revelations about Baroness [[Jenny Jones]], the [[Green Party]] denounced the spying on and recording details of politicians.<ref name="green.party">[http://greenparty.org.uk/news/2014/06/16/police%E2%80%99s-secret-surveillance-of-elected-politicians-with-no-criminal-record-is-scandalous/ The police’s secret surveillance of elected politicians with no criminal record is scandalous], ''The Green Party'' (press release), 16 June 2014, accessed 10 September 2014.</ref> Baroness Jones said the file on her 'was three pages of essentially gossip and reporting on speeches I had made or tweets that I had made.'<ref name="bbc.2014.06.16">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-27872451 Green Party politician Jenny Jones on 'domestic extremist' database], ''BBC News Online'', 16 June 2014, accessed 10 September 2014.</ref> Baroness Jones has been an outspoken critic of the database and has put forward a number of challenges to it in the London Assembly and elsewhere.<ref>Jenny Jones, [https://netpol.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Jenny-Jones-statement-Catt-case.pdf Witness Statement of Baroness Jenny Jones], November 2014, archived at NetPol.org, accessed 27 January 2015.</ref>
 === Justification ===

@@ Line 94: / Line 94: @@
 * While the NDEU claimed it did not focus on those who protested peacefully and lawfully, and was instead concerned with those who committed criminal offences,<ref name="acpo.ncde">[http://www.acpo.police.uk/ncde/ National Co-ordinator Domestic Extremism, Frequently Asked Questions], ''Association of Chief Police Officers'', undated (internal evidence indicates it was modified around 2011), archived by Undercover Research Group.</ref>, it is clear that at least some of them such as Jenny Jones, John Catt, Ian Driver had no criminal convictions.
-* A number of journalists have also found their names on the database too.<ref name="mark.thomas.nuj">Mark Thomas, [http://www.nuj.org.uk/news/help-the-nuj-expose-the-monitoring-of-journalists/ Help the NUJ expose the monitoring of journalists], ''National Union of Journalists'', 20 November 2013, accessed 10 September.</ref>
+* A number of journalists have also found their names on the database too.<ref name="mark.thomas.nuj">Mark Thomas, [http://www.nuj.org.uk/news/help-the-nuj-expose-the-monitoring-of-journalists/ Help the NUJ expose the monitoring of journalists], ''National Union of Journalists'', 20 November 2013, accessed 10 September.</ref><ref>Oscar Webb, [http://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2015/03/24/oscar-webb/am-i-on-the-domestic-extremist-database/
 ===Misinformation stored as well ===

@@ Line 122: / Line 122: @@
 ===Police Liaison Officers===
-Following active campaigns by protestors against the deployment of Forward Intelligence Teams at demonstrations (- including the now closed FITWatch) police have moved to deploying [[Police Liaison Officers]] (PLOs) instead. Not withstanding their friendly title, PLOs have formal intelligence gathering functions, including liaising with the NDEU,<ref>[https://netpol.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/uk-met-plo-foi-aims.pdf Police Liaison "Gateway" Team], ''Metropolitan Police Service'', document released following an FOIA of Kevin Blowe and published by Netpol in June 2014, accessed August 2014.</ref> and are encouraged to feed intelligence into CrimInt.<ref>Metropolitan Police Service, [http://www.statewatch.org/news/2013/sep/uk-met-plo-foi-sop.pdf Standard Operating Procedure for the Operational Deployment of Protestor Liaison Teams (PLT's) in the MPS], ''StateWatch.org'', September 2013, accessed 10 September 2014. This material is part of a number of documents on Police Liaison Officers released by the MPS in response to a FOIA request by Kevin Blowe. See the Statewatch article [http://www.statewatch.org/news/2013/sep/uk-protest-plos.html Policing of protest: documents on Police Liaison Officers released following Freedom of Information request]' for more detail.</ref> A number of PLOs are former FIT officers.<ref>[https://netpol.org/police-liaison-officers/ Police Liaison Officers], ''Network for Police Monitoring, undated, accessed 10 September 2014.</ref>
+Following active campaigns by protestors against the deployment of Forward Intelligence Teams at demonstrations (- including the now closed FITWatch) police have moved to deploying [[Police Liaison Officers]] (PLOs) instead. Not withstanding their friendly title, PLOs have formal intelligence gathering functions, including liaising with the NDEU,<ref>[https://netpol.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/uk-met-plo-foi-aims.pdf Police Liaison "Gateway" Team], ''Metropolitan Police Service'', document released following an FOIA of Kevin Blowe and published by Netpol in June 2014, accessed August 2014.</ref> and are encouraged to feed intelligence into CrimInt.<ref>Metropolitan Police Service, [http://www.statewatch.org/news/2013/sep/uk-met-plo-foi-sop.pdf Standard Operating Procedure for the Operational Deployment of Protestor Liaison Teams (PLT's) in the MPS], ''StateWatch.org'', September 2013, accessed 10 September 2014. This material is part of a number of documents on Police Liaison Officers released by the MPS in response to a FOIA request by Kevin Blowe. See the Statewatch article [http://www.statewatch.org/news/2013/sep/uk-protest-plos.html Policing of protest: documents on Police Liaison Officers released following Freedom of Information request]' for more detail.</ref> A number of PLOs are former FIT officers.<ref>[https://netpol.org/police-liaison-officers/ Police Liaison Officers], ''Network for Police Monitoring'', undated, accessed 10 September 2014.</ref>
 ===Open source intelligence gathering===
@@ Line 128: / Line 128: @@
 NETCU provided an 'open source gathering service between 2004-2010, taking material from websites and mainstream media for the database.<ref name="acpo.ncde" />
-In May 2013 [[Umut Ertogal]], the 'head of open source intelligence with the UK Police National Domestic Extremism Unit', revealed in a private report to the Australian police (then preparing for the Brisbane G20 Summit), that the unit used a software tool called SOCMINT to monitor social media sites to gauge public mood.<ref name="wired.1">Paul Wright, [http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/26/socmint Meet Prism's little brother: Socmint], Wired'', 26 June 2013, accessed 26 August 2014.</ref> It was apparently extensively used during the London 2012 Olympics and for 'predicting hotspots during the 2010 student protests' - including a call for a protest against a visit of Prime Minister David Cameron to King's Cross railway station that resulted in the arrests of 10 people.<ref>Andrew Colley, [http://www.theaustralian.com.au/technology/afp-seeks-social-media-monitoring-tools/story-fn4htb9o-1226649214353?nk=e129a8502b18ef77364700c65e2b0e74 AFP seeks social media monitoring tools], ''The Australian'', 23 May 2013, accessed 26 August 2014, paywalled.</ref> It was also revealed that at the time, SOCMINT (which stands for 'Social Media Intelligence', a name given to this open source intelligence gathering technique<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media_intelligence Social media intelligence], ''Wikipedia'', undated, accessed 26 August 2014.</ref>) it was being run by a staff of 17 people working around the clock, scanning Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and other public forums used by UK citizens.<ref name="wired.1" /> Ertogral reportedly said that YouTube effectively acted as CCTV and Google Glasses were 'another channel for us to explore and look at'.<ref>Aman Jain, [http://www.valuewalk.com/2013/05/google-glass-may-help-in-investigations-u-k-police/ Google Glass May Help In Investigations: U.K. Police ], ''ValueWalk.com'', 23 May 2013, accessed 26 August 2014.</ref>
+In May 2013 [[Umut Ertogal]], the 'head of open source intelligence with the UK Police National Domestic Extremism Unit', revealed in a private report to the Australian police (then preparing for the Brisbane G20 Summit), that the unit used a software tool called SOCMINT to monitor social media sites to gauge public mood.<ref name="wired.1">Paul Wright, [http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/26/socmint Meet Prism's little brother: Socmint], ''Wired'', 26 June 2013, accessed 26 August 2014.</ref> It was apparently extensively used during the London 2012 Olympics and for 'predicting hotspots during the 2010 student protests' - including a call for a protest against a visit of Prime Minister David Cameron to King's Cross railway station that resulted in the arrests of 10 people.<ref>Andrew Colley, [http://www.theaustralian.com.au/technology/afp-seeks-social-media-monitoring-tools/story-fn4htb9o-1226649214353?nk=e129a8502b18ef77364700c65e2b0e74 AFP seeks social media monitoring tools], ''The Australian'', 23 May 2013, accessed 26 August 2014, paywalled.</ref> It was also revealed that at the time, SOCMINT (which stands for 'Social Media Intelligence', a name given to this open source intelligence gathering technique<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media_intelligence Social media intelligence], ''Wikipedia'', undated, accessed 26 August 2014.</ref>) it was being run by a staff of 17 people working around the clock, scanning Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and other public forums used by UK citizens.<ref name="wired.1" /> Ertogral reportedly said that YouTube effectively acted as CCTV and Google Glasses were 'another channel for us to explore and look at'.<ref>Aman Jain, [http://www.valuewalk.com/2013/05/google-glass-may-help-in-investigations-u-k-police/ Google Glass May Help In Investigations: U.K. Police ], ''ValueWalk.com'', 23 May 2013, accessed 26 August 2014.</ref>
 ==  Blacklisting and exchange of information ==

@@ Line 150: / Line 150: @@
 Corporate Watch pointed out that, if uncurbed, the database facilitates mass surveillance and criminalisation of protestors.<ref>[http://www.corporatewatch.org/news/2014/dec/09/will-supreme-court-give-police-right-mass-surveillance Will the Supreme Court give police the 'right' to mass surveillance?], ''Corporate Watch'', 9 December 2014, accessed 27 January 2015.</ref>
 ::  what the police are really fighting for ... is the right to continue to criminalise people voicing dissent against the powerful, even if there is no proof that they have been involved in illegal acts. Because John Catt was involved in public acts of protest at a time when other people were carrying out illegal acts of direct action he was deemed a subject fit for police surveillance and harassment, even though there was no suggestion of any suspicion that he ever intended to break the law.
 There was also of concern that the database was used in the creation 'spotter cards' of high profile individuals or activists regularly in attendance at protest. These were provided to police at large scale events such as the Camp for Climate Action<ref>Personal Communication from a campaigner who was informed that their image was on a police spotter overseen at the Camp for Climate Action in 2006.</ref> and the protests against the DSEi arms fair<ref name="guardian.2009.10.25" /> - the latter, produced by CO11, included an image of prominent comedian Mark Thomas.<ref>Mark Thomas, [http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/oct/25/doth-i-protest-too-much Doth I protest too much?], ''The Guardian'' 25 October 2009, accessed 10 September 2014.</ref>

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 Details on the database come from a variety of different sources, and remains 'owned' by the police force which supplied them.<ref name="acpo.ncde" />
-* The NDEU soured its intelligence from police forces, counter-terrorism units, industry and open sources across the full range of protest activity, according to a 2012 HM Inspectorate of Constabulary report. The Unit also 'submits bespoke intelligence requirements to law enforcement partners on particular groups and planned events of interest'.Not all intelligence received is put on file, but a subjective decision is made to its relevance. The force or unit which had provided the information receives feedback on why the intelligence failed to meet the NDEU's requirements.<ref name="hmic.2012" />
+* The NDEU sourced its intelligence from police forces, counter-terrorism units, industry and open sources across the full range of protest activity, according to a 2012 HM Inspectorate of Constabulary report. The Unit also 'submits bespoke intelligence requirements to law enforcement partners on particular groups and planned events of interest'.Not all intelligence received is put on file, but a subjective decision is made to its relevance. The force or unit which had provided the information receives feedback on why the intelligence failed to meet the NDEU's requirements.<ref name="hmic.2012" />
 * Information would come from police forces all over the country, where individual Special Branches and officers recorded what peopled did and said at protests. Around 2009, [[Forward Intelligence Teams]] (FIT)<ref name="guardian.2009.10.25" /> in particular were a key source of images for the database as well. NETCU meanwhile had responsibility for collating post-event information from police forces on protests, such as location, numbers and duration.<ref name="acpo.ncde" />