Difference between revisions of "National Public Order Intelligence Unit"
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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]]<ref name="Evans">Rob Evans and Paul Lewis, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jan/09/undercover-office-green-activists?intcmp=122 Undercover officer spied on green activists] ''The Guardian'' 09/01/11, accessed 10/01/11</ref>. | 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]]<ref name="Evans">Rob Evans and Paul Lewis, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jan/09/undercover-office-green-activists?intcmp=122 Undercover officer spied on green activists] ''The Guardian'' 09/01/11, accessed 10/01/11</ref>. | ||
| − | + | ''The Guardian'' reveals that he said that each undercover spy cost £250,000<ref name="Evans"/>. 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"<ref>Paul Lewis and Nidhi Prakash, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jan/05/ratcliffe-coal-protesters-sentence?INTCMP=SRCH Ratcliffe coal protesters spared jail sentences] ''The Guardian'' 05/01/11, accessed 11/01/11</ref>. | |
==Accountability== | ==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. | 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, | + | |
| + | ===Prosecution Abandoned=== | ||
| + | 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<ref name="Evans"/>. | :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<ref name="Evans"/>. | ||
| + | ===private security sector=== | ||
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"<ref>Kirsty Wark, [http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00xggg1/Newsnight_10_01_2011/ NewsNight] "BBC2" 10/01/11, accessed 11/01/11</ref>. | 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"<ref>Kirsty Wark, [http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00xggg1/Newsnight_10_01_2011/ NewsNight] "BBC2" 10/01/11, accessed 11/01/11</ref>. | ||
| − | |||
===More than a peripheral role=== | ===More than a peripheral role=== | ||
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Though occupying a key role in the organising (contributing to the planning of the actions) and logistics (providing transport and funds) of protest, Mark Kennedy was however finally exposed by activists who found a passport with his real name and confronted him, leading to a confession<ref name="Evans"/>. | Though occupying a key role in the organising (contributing to the planning of the actions) and logistics (providing transport and funds) of protest, Mark Kennedy was however finally exposed by activists who found a passport with his real name and confronted him, leading to a confession<ref name="Evans"/>. | ||
| − | Legal documents suggest Kennedy's activities went beyond those of a passive spy, prompting questions as to whether his role in organising and helping to fund protests meant he turned into an agent provocateur, suggests the | + | Legal documents suggest Kennedy's activities went beyond those of a passive spy, prompting questions as to whether his role in organising and helping to fund protests meant he turned into an agent provocateur, suggests the ''The Guardian''<ref name="Evans"/>. |
Revision as of 10:52, 11 January 2011
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.[1]
Contents
History
The NPOIU was set up in March 1999 to track green activists and public demonstrations. It incorporated the Animal Rights National Index.[2]
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.[3]
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."[4]
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.[5]
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".[6]
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”.[7]
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.[8]
Database
The Guardian has described the NPOIU as "essentially a giant database of protest groups and protesters in the country."[9]
- 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".
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[11].
The Guardian reveals that he said that each undercover spy cost £250,000[11]. 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"[12].
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.
Prosecution Abandoned
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[11].
private security sector
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"[13].
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"[11].
Though occupying a key role in the organising (contributing to the planning of the actions) and logistics (providing transport and funds) of protest, Mark Kennedy was however finally exposed by activists who found a passport with his real name and confronted him, leading to a confession[11]. Legal documents suggest Kennedy's activities went beyond those of a passive spy, prompting questions as to whether his role in organising and helping to fund protests meant he turned into an agent provocateur, suggests the The Guardian[11].
Affiliations
Subsidiaries
Notes
- ↑ National Policing Units, National Extremism Tactical Co-Ordination Unit, accessed 11 February 2009 via the Internet Archive.
- ↑ Secret State: Timeline, Programmes: True Spies, BBC News, 17 October 2002.
- ↑ Keeping the Peace Chapter 1, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, 1 March 2001, p.18.
- ↑ Keeping the Peace Chapter 3, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, 1 March 2001, p.49.
- ↑ Keeping the Peace Chapter 1, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, 1 March 2001, p.14.
- ↑ methods' of green activists `set terrorist snares, by Jason Bennetto, The Independent,19 March 1999.
- ↑ Protest and Survive, by George Monbiot, the Guardian, 26 March 1999, via monbiot.com.
- ↑ Counter-terrorism unit to tackle campus extremism, by Roya Nikkhah, telegraph.co.uk,24 October 2006.
- ↑ Rob Evans, Paul Lewis and Matthew Taylor, How police rebranded lawful protest as 'domestic extremism', guardian.co.uk, 25 October 2009.
- ↑ Rob Evans, Paul Lewis and Matthew Taylor, How police rebranded lawful protest as 'domestic extremism', guardian.co.uk, 25 October 2009.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 Rob Evans and Paul Lewis, Undercover officer spied on green activists The Guardian 09/01/11, accessed 10/01/11
- ↑ Paul Lewis and Nidhi Prakash, Ratcliffe coal protesters spared jail sentences The Guardian 05/01/11, accessed 11/01/11
- ↑ Kirsty Wark, NewsNight "BBC2" 10/01/11, accessed 11/01/11
