{"id":105767,"date":"2021-04-03T15:45:18","date_gmt":"2021-04-03T15:45:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/?p=1228174"},"modified":"2021-04-03T15:45:18","modified_gmt":"2021-04-03T15:45:18","slug":"leaked-briefing-provides-a-snapshot-of-a-new-police-unit-thats-spying-on-protesters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/04\/03\/leaked-briefing-provides-a-snapshot-of-a-new-police-unit-thats-spying-on-protesters\/","title":{"rendered":"Leaked briefing provides a snapshot of a new police unit that\u2019s spying on protesters"},"content":{"rendered":"

An internal police briefing leaked online provides a snapshot i<\/span>nto the workings of a new intelligence unit. The role of this unit is to spy on protesters across the UK. And its work appears to be very similar to that of an earlier unit, the officers of which were subsequently dubbed ‘spycops’.<\/p>\n

Confidential
\n<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The briefing<\/a> document states that the author is “NPoCC Strategic Intelligence & Briefing (SIB)”. But the document’s metadata shows that it was actually authored by Alex Fedorcio of the National Counter Terrorism Policing HQ (NCTPHQ). The NCTPHQ devises<\/a> “policy and strategy, and provides corporate and support services to the CT [Counter Terrorism] network”.<\/p>\n

The document prefaces<\/a> that: “This report is solely for the use of approved named individuals on NPoCC\u2019s audited distribution list”.<\/p>\n

Monitoring protests<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The bulk of the document refers to the policing of protests over the weekend of 13\/14 June 2020. These were<\/a> Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests.<\/p>\n

For example, the briefing for the London protests of 13 June listed<\/a> the following:<\/p>\n

\u2022 13\/06\/2020: MPS A protest is planned at Katie’s Statue HA1 1LF from 1100hrs.
\n\u2022 13\/06\/2020: MPS A protest is planned at Shooters Hill from 1200hrs.
\n\u2022 13\/06\/2020: MPS A protest is planned in Croydon from 1200hrs.
\n\u2022 CANCELLED 13\/06\/2020: MPS A protest is planned from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square from
\n1300 to 1800hrs.
\n\u2022 13\/06\/2020: MPS A protest is planned in Alexander Park from 1300 to 1500hrs.
\n\u2022 13\/06\/2020: MPS A protest is planned in Kennington Park from 1300hrs.
\n\u2022 13\/06\/2020: MPS A protest is planned at Newington Green Roundabout from 1400 to 1800hrs.
\n\u2022 13\/06\/2020: MPS A protest is planned in Enfield Town.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The document similarly listed more protests that were expected over that weekend.<\/p>\n

In the aftermath, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) posted images<\/a> of persons wanted in connection with alleged violence – many of these were of Black and Brown men. However, The Canary<\/em> reported<\/a> at the time on how the source of the violence was not BLM protesters but the far-right.<\/p>\n

Spycops unit<\/strong><\/h5>\n

But there’s another dimension that requires attention.<\/p>\n

According to Netpol<\/a>, which seeks<\/a> to “monitor public order, protest and street policing,” NPoCC-SIB should be seen<\/a> as a new ‘spycops<\/a>‘ unit. Netpol’s comments came after the publication of a March 2021 report<\/a> by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services<\/a> (HMICFRS) that stated:<\/p>\n

Since the late 1990s, the police have made various arrangements for managing protest-related intelligence nationally. In recent years, this has fallen under the remit of Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP).<\/p>\n

In January 2020, the NPCC decided to reallocate responsibilities. Low-level aggravated activism intelligence was transferred to the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The HMICFRS report added:<\/p>\n

The NPoCC\u2019s strategic intelligence and briefing team (NPoCC SIB) was created in April 2020. Its remit is to manage intelligence related to low-level aggravated activists and protests that have the potential to cause disorder or significant disruption on a national or cross-regional scale. It is also responsible for giving intelligence and assessments to police forces.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Netpol argues<\/a> that the NPoCC-SIB<\/a> is essentially:<\/p>\n

the return of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit, which employed the undercover officer Mark Kennedy whose unlawful activities helped to trigger the ongoing Undercover Policing Inquiry.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Kennedy<\/a> worked for the National Public Order Intelligence Unit over many years as an undercover operative. As The Canary<\/em>\u00a0previously reported,<\/a>\u00a0HMICFRS revealed:<\/p>\n

that 3,466 undercover operations took place in England and Wales between October 2009 and September 2013 alone. These operations were carried out by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU) \u2013 the successor to the SDS [Special Demonstration Squad]. It also found that by 2014 a reported 1,229 officers in England and Wales were trained as UCOs [undercover officers].<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Further,\u00a0the Guardian<\/em>\u00a0described<\/a> the NPOIU as “essentially a giant database of protest groups and protesters in the country”. Its purpose is to:<\/p>\n

\n
\n

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<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Careers at SIB<\/h5>\n

It appears that job ads for the NPoCC-SIB back up Netpol’s claim. One such ad by the Met, with an application deadline of 27 October 2020, stated<\/a>:<\/p>\n

NPoCC SIB provides intelligence assessment for both police and law enforcement stakeholders. …<\/p>\n

Our core responsibilities are within public order policing \u2013 to develop assessments, event planning and the review of security in line with policing\u2019s core duties to prevent and detect crime, keep the peace and to protect life and property.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It described the role as involving:<\/p>\n

collating, summarising and interpreting a range of overt and covert information sources to deliver valuable, insightful research to inform the threat, risk and harm picture across the UK.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“Covert information sources” is more commonly referred to as “covert human intelligence sources<\/a>” (CHIS). In other words, persons – including undercover officers – who spy upon or infiltrate police targets. Given the deadline for applications, it’s assumed the ad was published in the same or previous month that the bill legalising<\/a> CHIS was going through<\/a> the second reading stage in parliament (it’s now passed the third reading).<\/p>\n

According to the College of Policing, CHIS can include<\/a>: \u2018victims, witnesses, suspects, colleagues such as local and field intelligence officers, community sources including community and race advisers, local councillors, religious leaders and members of the community\u2019.<\/p>\n

Return of ‘spycops’<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The Guardian<\/em>, Undercover Research<\/a>,<\/em> and The Canary<\/em> have been pivotal over the last few years in exposing the work of ‘spycops’. In particular, the fake and in some cases real identities of the undercover officers (UCOs) involved. Some UCOs formed long-term sexual relationships<\/a> with women activists. At least thirty women were exploited in this way.<\/p>\n

Kennedy was one of the UCOs who exploited women: with<\/a> \u2018Lisa Jones\u2019 over six years; with<\/a> Kate (\u2018Lily\u2019) over two years; with<\/a> \u2018Naomi\u2019; and with<\/a> Sarah Hampton.<\/p>\n

This video shows \u2018Lisa’ and Kate explaining what happened:<\/p>\n