Welsh Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit
The Welsh Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit (WECTU) is a single Special Branch created by the four Welsh police forces. Its remit covers international Terrorism, Irish-related terrorism and domestic extremism.[1]
WECTU was formerly heaed by then Assistant Chief Constable of South Wales Giles York.[2]
George Monbiot has accused WECTU of lacking public accountability:
- The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) now runs three units whose purpose is to tackle another phenomenon it has never defined: domestic extremism. These are the National Extremism Tactical Coordination Unit (Netcu), the Welsh Extremism and Counter-Terrorism Unit and the National Public Order Intelligence Unit. Because Acpo is not a public body but a private limited company, the three bodies are exempt from freedom of information laws and other kinds of public accountability, even though they are funded by the Home Office and deploy police officers from regional forces.[3]
Finance
WECTU's budget of approximately £3.5 million per annum is largely funded though the Home Office and ACPO TAM.[4]
External Resources
- Paul Mobbs/The Free Range Network, NETCU, WECTU and NPOIU: Britain's Secretive Police Force, 1 April 2009.
Notes
- ↑ Linda Major, Evaluation of the Collaboration Programme in Wales,Police Authorities Wales, 23 June 2008, p.6.
- ↑ David James, [http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/05/20/how-wales-leads-the-way-in-counter-terrorism-91466-20934309/ How Wales leads the way in counter-terrorism, Western Mail, 20 May 2008.
- ↑ George Monbiot, As the political consensus collapses, now all dissenters face suppression, guardian.co.uk, 18 May 2009.
- ↑ Linda Major, Evaluation of the Collaboration Programme in Wales,Police Authorities Wales, 23 June 2008, p.7.
