i wouldn't say it's not the same - clearly elements of it are (with e.g. the police squads during the miners' strike and so on). butchers etc are absolutely correct when they say that the state has always done bad stuff. however, what i would say is that over the last 30 years living standards have gradually been eroded, and in the coming years, this erosion won't be so "gradual" any more, leading to such actions, rather than being the exception during periods of unrest, will become the norm as there is more open hostility and more open class (and other) social conflict, more industrial action, more strikes, more riots (possibly) etc etc - and society will become more "unstable", necessitating this type of tougher policing to become the norm more and more often.
none of this, however, is necessarily anything like fascism
I think the above is explained because Britain is a country in decline.
I have lived in countries with really authoritarian governments, dictatorships and under military rule and from my experience Britain is a very liberal government.
If I left home now and headed out of the city I would have to pass at least 2 police check points, on entering any large town or city I would also have to pass through more police check points.
By law I have to carry an ID card and fortunately for me I have never been asked to show it, but I have been asked for my vehicle documents and license while driving.
I also have what is called a CPF (a personal tax number), this can be used by government departments to track my spending and if I don't pay my bills this number can be suspended by the government making it impossible to live any kind of normal life, without a "live" CPF you have no access to health care, education, employment, you can't get a telephone, electricity, rent or buy property, own or drive a car, you can't even buy electrical goods.
As well as the CPF, if I get fines for driving and don't pay them, my drivers license will be suspended and as this has to be renewed every 5 years, I have to pay my fines in order to renew it. If I am stopped at a police check point and don't have ALL the correct documents, they will impound my vehicle.
By the way I live in what is considered a liberal democracy nowadays
I think the people of the UK are right to ask why are we on cctv all the time and who is tracking their phone or GPS, who has access to the date from personalized travel cards and all that stuff, but to claim the UK is even close to being authoritarian is way off the mark in my view.
I'm sure I could find far more information about most British people just by searching the internet than I would get from police files.
