Civil Liberties

Just when you thought it was safe to photograph a policeman or wave a placard, two important piece of news that are the latest nails in the coffin of civil liberties arrive today.

I hope everyone went out photographing the police yesterday, cause you needed to get it out of your system. If you snap a cop today you could face 10 years. Even if the cop is doing something wrong.

This is from Penny Red: "Set to become law on the 16th of February in the UK, the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 amends the Terrorism Act 2000 regarding offences relating to information about members of armed forces, a member of the intelligence services, or a police officer. Laws are being introduced that allow for the arrest - and fining, and imprisonment for up to ten years - of anyone who takes pictures of officers 'likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism'."

So when the police are harassing peaceful protesters at a demonstration, the demonstrators can't even protect themselves by gathering photographic evidence.

Secondly, The NETCU look like they are being replaced by the CIU... The CIU or Confidential Intelligence Unit (clearly intimidatorily named to be like the CIA) seems to be taking on the role of defeating domestic extremism. I'm all in favour of defeating extremists but my guess is that they won't target people who hand billions of squid to bankers, or people taking bungs to amend the law in the favour of greedy corporations, or even politicians that claim that the overwhelming majority of climate scientists are wrong and that her economist friend knows more about climate change than them.

Target the terrorists and those who are out to cause people harm, not those who are trying to raise awareness of the biggest problem that has ever faced mankind.

NETCU - a waste of time and money

Monbiot's article has prompted me to have a look at the NETCU website. "The National Extremism Tactical Coordination Unit (NETCU) promotes a coordinated response to domestic extremism" proudly states the opening paragraph. Monbiot details the case of a university lecturer trying to get his name removed from a publication by NETCU after he protested against the destruction of Radley Lakes, but perhaps an equally bizarre story exists by looking at their newsfeed.

Four arrested for leafleting: Ok, it was despicable stuff they were distributing - but surely this is not a headline event from the NETCU?

Street Collector Jailed for Fraud: He nicked four grand. The NETCU are proud to have played their part in his capture. Is this the best they can do?

Two convicted of tresspass: Now it's getting serious.

Of course they also have the padlock and knives found 'in woodland outside the climate camp' and still claim that they were to be used against Kingsnorth, despite no evidence to substantiate this.

We have thousands being killed on the roads each day, thousands of children going missing, obscene profits made by the few at the expense of the many, real fraud (not £4k), abuse, hate crimes and so on. Disband NETCU now and put the resources where they will make a difference.