If you are planning to travel from Britain to protests at the United Nations COP25 climate change conference in Madrid, which begins next week, it is important that you know about the Spanish state’s approach to freedom of assembly and in particular the extremely draconian Basic Law for the Protection of Public Security (Ley Orgánica
Tag: netpol
Want to annoy the cops? Then bung a few quid at Netpol
The Network for Police Monitoring (Netpol) turned 10 this week and, instead of presents, they’re asking for cash. Carl Spender is here to tell us why we should all dig deep. For those not in-the-know: Netpol are the country’s premiere cop-watchers. Their job – which they do damned well – is to monitor what the
It is not just a bunch of flowers
Why supporting Extinction Rebellion in a spirit of cooperation and friendship has, at times, been extraordinarily difficult. My work as coordinator of the Network for Police Monitoring (Netpol) has kept me busy for some months now supporting the rights of Extinction Rebellion (XR) campaigners to exercise their freedom of assembly. XR activists have been out
Police ‘extremism database’ ruled illegal by human rights court
Campaigners have welcomed today’s victory by veteran peace campaigner John Catt against the misuse of personal data collected via police surveillance. John, who is well known for his work with groups such as Smash Edo, has spent eight years on the case, taking it all the way to the European Court of Human Rights which
Police Surveillance – a Note for Extinction Rebellion Campaigners
Network for Police Monitoring (Netpol) co-ordinator Kevin Blowe breaks down likely tactics police will be using to disrupt the activities of climate action group Extinction Rebellion and why extreme caution should be used when dealing with the force. Netpol is a coalition of organisations, researchers and lawyers challenging violent or excessive policing in the UK, and
Writing to #FrackFreeFour Prisoners
This is a re-post from Netpol. The three anti-fracking activists sentenced on 26 September are currently in HMP Preston (although they are likely to be moved to another prison). Writing to them is a way to show your solidarity, as well as vital to building strong movements in which we take care of each other.
Why covering your face at a protest is the right thing to do
Network for Police Monitoring (Netpol) co-ordinator Kevin Blowe explains why the organisation encourages activists to mask up. In June 2015 Netpol launched a campaign to try to encourage activists to start covering their faces when taking part in demonstrations and marches. We saw this initiative as one of the few remaining ways of resisting the
Cressida Dick’s appointment as Met Commissioner is impunity at its worst
In this comment article the Network for Police Monitoring argues that the appointment of Cressida Dick, the officer who oversaw the killing of Jean Charles de Menezes, to the top job in the Metropolitan Police shows the Met’s total disinterest in either justice or the hurt caused by its actions The word “impunity” – exemption from
Silhan Ozcelik’s imprisonment is another vicious example of today’s counter-insurgency
Silhan Ozcelik, an eighteen-year-old Kurdish woman from London, was sentenced to 21 months at the Old Bailey two days ago. Silhan’s conviction is the first in the UK against someone for attempting to fight alongside Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The verdict comes within the wave of patriotism engulfing Europe after the Paris attacks on 13th