- National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit
-
The National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit (NETCU) is a British police organization funded by, and reporting to, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) that coordinates police action against groups in the United Kingdom it describes as extremist. As of April 2007, it was headed by Superintendent Steve Pearl.[1] Because the ACPO is not a public body but rather a private limited company, NETCU is 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.[2]
Contents
Background
"NETCU provides tactical advice and guidance on policing single-issue domestic extremism. The unit also supports companies and other organisations that are the targets of domestic extremism campaigns. NETCU reports through the National Coordinator for Domestic Extremism (NCDE) to the Association of Chief Police Officers Terrorism and Allied Matters - ACPO(TAM) committee."[3]
NETCU answers to the Association of Chief Police Officers' (ACPO) Terrorism and Allied Matters Committee, and in particular to ACPO's National Co-Ordinator for Domestic Extremism, Detective Chief Superintendent Adrian Tudway[4]. It works with the Home Office, and the National Public Order Intelligence Unit.[5]
The unit was created in or around May 2004 to coordinate police action in relation to animal rights campaigns. It is based in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, which has been a focal point for animal rights activism as a result of the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty campaign.[6]
Apart from animal rights groups, it has also investigated the UK Life League, a direct action pro-life group that protests outside abortion clinics.[7]
Takeover by the Metropolitan Police
In November 2010 it was announced that the three ACPO units commanded by the National Coordinator for Domestic Extremism would be rebranded as the National Domestic Extremism Unit and brought under the control of the Metropolitan Police by Summer 2011.[8]
See also
Notes
- ^ Copping, Jasper. "Animal rights extremists target farmers", The Sunday Telegraph, April 14, 2007.
- ^ Monbiot, George. As the political consensus collapses, now all dissenters face suppression. The Guardian. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
- ^ leaked NETCU policing document, photos of leaked document
- ^ DCS Adrian Tudway appointed new National Coordinator for Domestic Extremism, NDEU/NETCU, 15 November 2010, accessed 10 January 2011
- ^ "ACPO welcomes 'economic damage' amendment to serious organised crime and police bill", press release, Association of Chief Police Officers, January 31, 2005.
- ^ NETCU contact page
- ^ Laville, Sandra. "Anti-abortionists turn sights on schools and hospitals in US-style campaign", The Guardian, March 27 2006.
- ^ "Police on 'tightrope' at protests". Press Association. 23 November 2010. http://www.pressassociation.com/component/pafeeds/2010/11/23/police_on_tightrope_at_protests. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
Further reading
- NETCU website
- Glover, Julian; Adam, David; and Ward, David. "Anger over 'victory' for animal rights campaign", The Guardian, August 24, 2005
- "Animal rights protesters", Hansard, May 20, 2004
- Cox, Simon and Vadon, Richard. "How animal rights took on the world", BBC Radio 4, November 18, 2004.
Categories:- ACPO
- Animal rights
- National law enforcement agencies of the United Kingdom
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
