Plane Stupid and Police Investigation
Discussion
"Undercover police are running a network of hundreds of informants inside protest organisations who secretly feed them intelligence in return for cash, according to evidence handed to the Guardian"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/apr/24/strathcly...
Anyone a little uncomfortable about the methods the police are using against protestors?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/apr/24/strathcly...
Anyone a little uncomfortable about the methods the police are using against protestors?
I don't have an issue with investigations into criminal activity, for example nobody would be complaining if this was some group suspected of planning a bank robbery.
It does feel lately as if the Police are becoming more of an enforcer of what the state considers desirable and undesirable activities, even if they are within the law, than solely being there to protect and serve the public.
It does feel lately as if the Police are becoming more of an enforcer of what the state considers desirable and undesirable activities, even if they are within the law, than solely being there to protect and serve the public.
paddyhasneeds said:
I don't have an issue with investigations into criminal activity, for example nobody would be complaining if this was some group suspected of planning a bank robbery.
It does feel lately as if the Police are becoming more of an enforcer of what the state considers desirable and undesirable activities, even if they are within the law, than solely being there to protect and serve the public.
It does feel lately as if the Police are becoming more of an enforcer of what the state considers desirable and undesirable activities, even if they are within the law, than solely being there to protect and serve the public.
I don't see the problem at all. These people resort to illegal methods to inconvenience members of the public in order to get their point across. If the Police are preventing illegal activity, then they can do what they need to within reason. I really don't see why the police running informants is suddenly big news?
Quite probably the police have already used similar methods, given that after the devastating political effect of the first fuel protests - far greater than any material impact - the muppets in charge were prepared to use anti-terrorist laws anyway.
The key thing is, if a member of an organisation as plain stupid as Plane Stupid provides information on activities that are unlawful, and is paid for their role in upholding the law, it's not desirable but certainly acceptable to me. if any motoring organisation I was a member of wished to participate in unlawful protests then I would no longer be a member and they would deserve what they get.
Lawful protest is fine. If the rest can be prevented by infiltration and a bit of folding then OK.
The key thing is, if a member of an organisation as plain stupid as Plane Stupid provides information on activities that are unlawful, and is paid for their role in upholding the law, it's not desirable but certainly acceptable to me. if any motoring organisation I was a member of wished to participate in unlawful protests then I would no longer be a member and they would deserve what they get.
Lawful protest is fine. If the rest can be prevented by infiltration and a bit of folding then OK.
turbobloke said:
Lawful protest is fine. If the rest can be prevented by infiltration and a bit of folding then OK.
If the law's being broken I agree.I suspect there's a bit of "mission creep" though - as the article on protester information being passed to EON demonstrated last week.
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