National Public Order Intelligence Unit

The National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU) is one of a number of national policing units overseen by the National Co-ordinator for Domestic Extremism.

The NETCU website describes its role as follows:

NPOIU supports the police service throughout the UK to maintain a strategic overview of public order issues, including domestic extremism and the activities of animal rights extremists.

The unit liaises with Special Branch teams within police forces in bringing together intelligence that helps to protect the public from domestic extremism and other national security threats.

History

The NPOIU was set up in March 1999 to track green activists and public demonstrations. It incorporated the Animal Rights National Index.

A March 1999 report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary linked the new unit to a need, identified by ACPO in July 1998, for a national public order intelligence system:

It is planned that public order intelligence officers in each force area will have access to the unit via a secure network. Her Majesty’s Inspector welcomes the proposal to bring some rationalisation to the present disparate system, but notes that the new unit will operate independently from NCIS, whilst football intelligence will remain a function of NCIS. In the longer term further consideration will need to be given to this system.

THe HMIC report expressed concern that "The announcement of any new construction project that is remotely controversial heralds a period of ‘defensive building’, such as the construction of elaborate bunkers, trenches and tunnels, often containing highly dangerous booby traps posing considerable danger to those involved."

The report highlighted the role of animal and environmental protest groups in particular:

These groups have adopted a strategic, long-term approach to their protests employing new and innovative tactics to frustrate authorities and achieve their objective. There is evidence that some elements operate in cell like structures in a quasi-terrorist mode to keep secret their movements and intentions.

Press reports linked the creation of the new unit to these concerns. The Independent stated the NPIOU would "compile profiles of protesters and organisations considered to be potentially troublesome" and would "draw up action plans that chief constables can introduce to head off disorder".

George Monbiot linked the new unit to proposed legislation that would extend the definition of terrorism to include “serious violence against persons or property, or the threat to use such violence … for political, religious or ideological ends”.

In 2006, it was reported that NPIOU officers would be represented on a new group set up by university security officers to monitor the activities of Islamists on campus.

Database

The Guardian has described the NPOIU as "essentially a giant database of protest groups and protesters in the country."

Housed at a secret location in London, its purpose is "to gather, assess, analyse and disseminate intelligence and information relating to criminal activities in the United Kingdom where there is a threat of crime or to public order which arises from domestic extremism or protest activity".

Police in England and Wales collect intelligence on individuals and then feed it to the NPOIU which, Setchell said, "can read across" all the forces' intelligence and deliver back to them "coherent" assessments.

The Costs of Intelligence Gathering

Kennedy, 'Flash', was exposed as a police officer having infiltrated the UK environment protest movement for 7 years. Kennedy is reported to be one of at least two undercover operatives working for the National Public Order Intelligence Unit.

He said that each undercover spy cost £250,000, according to the Guardian. He was actively involved in the protest against E.ON's coal-fire power station in Nottingham which, according to the Guardian was subject to "months of surveillance, cost ￡300,000 and resulted in the largest number of pre-emptive arrests of political activists in the UK".

Accountability

The measures that are taken to avoid supplying information as to who these individuals are working for, as well as their remit, raises questions about accountability. When details of Mark Kennedy's role within the protest planned against E.ON's coal power fire station were required for the prosecution, the Guardian revealed that

the prosecutors unexpectedly abandoned the trial after they were asked to disclose classified details about the role the undercover officer played in organising and helping to fund the protest. "I have no doubt that our attempts to get disclosure about Kennedy's role has led to the collapse of the trial," said Mike Schwarz, a solicitor at the Bindmans law firm who represented the activists.

In an interview for BBC2 Peter Bleksley, former undercover police officer, confirms that there are currently more police officers embedded in the movement and that "there are also people from the private security sector working against climate campaigners".

More than a peripheral role

The Met could face pressure to explain the ethics of deploying an officer so deep undercover. It has been repeatedly criticised for its handling of protests. A Metropolitan police spokesman said: "We are not prepared to discuss the matter".

Though similarly occupying a key role in the organising (contributing to the planning of the actions) and logistics (providing transport and funds) of protest, Mark Stone was however finally exposed by activists who found a passport with his real name and confronted him, leading to a confession. Legal documents suggest Kennedy's activities went beyond those of a passive spy, prompting activists to ask whether his role in organising and helping to fund protests meant he turned into an agent provocateur.

Affiliations

• National Co-ordinator for Domestic Extremism

Subsidiaries

• Confidential Intelligence Unit