Are you under surveillance? Police monitor 9000 activists

[SpookyFrank]

Well I did have a thought, gosh lucky I don't smoke hash anymore! but do you think I really should have asked for a warrant? At the time I just thought it easier to show them the photographs.

I'm assuming you'd prefer that the police didn't go through your stuff, in which case you are entirely within your rights to ask to see a warrant before you let them in your house. It doesn't hurt to remind the plod that a) they can't just do anything they want and b) that members of the general public are aware of their rights and won't have the piss taken.

Remember, the police are never looking for evidence that someone hasn't done something. They're never trying to 'just rule you out as a suspect'. What they do is try and pin something on the most convenient-looking suspect available to them, and whether that's you or somebody you might have taken photos of, showing them that evidence is only gonna increase the possibility of someone getting charged or convicted with something somewhere down the line.

 

[Pickman's model]

i'm reminded of the story of the old man interned in 1971 who hadn't been active in irish politics since being in the gpo in 1916: there must be lots of people on their list who have been active but who no longer have the time or perhaps the inclination to return.

 

[SpookyFrank]

They only bother with 9000 people. What a non-dissenting and compliant society we live in

And at least three quarters of those people will probably never break the law in the course of their activities.

 

[Wilf]

Only thing I know is the police took my car registration at the G8 camp at Stirling. That means I'm officially less dangerous to the British state than a Fiat Punto.

Most specific thing I heard was I might have been on the Economic League card index around the time of the Miners Strike. If I was, it would have been on the basis of being the chair of a tiny miners support group. Hardly earthshattering, code red stuff - but that was the random way it operated then, where they'd just stick somebody on a database on the strength of the odd newspaper report. Of course its all so much more targeted today....

 

[Mandalaa]

Jesus fucking christ. If this is the way the world is going I don't think I will bother trying to quit smoking anymore.

 

[Pickman's model]

Jesus fucking christ. If this is the way the world is going I don't think I will bother trying to quit smoking anymore.

why not smoke twice as much?

 

[Mandalaa]

Pickman, you beauty!

 

[kenny g]

I'm assuming you'd prefer that the police didn't go through your stuff, in which case you are entirely within your rights to ask to see a warrant before you let them in your house. It doesn't hurt to remind the plod that a) they can't just do anything they want and b) that members of the general public are aware of their rights and won't have the piss taken.

Remember, the police are never looking for evidence that someone hasn't done something. They're never trying to 'just rule you out as a suspect'. What they do is try and pin something on the most convenient-looking suspect available to them, and whether that's you or somebody you might have taken photos of, showing them that evidence is only gonna increase the possibility of someone getting charged or convicted with something somewhere down the line.

Best to say you don't co-operate with political policing as a matter of conscience.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Best to say you don't co-operate with political policing as a matter of conscience.

I am struck by the image of a copper stood on my doorstep saying, 'oh, so you've got a conscience then?' and scribbling this fact in his notebook with a serious expression on his face.

I've seen this happen many times. A person knowing the law and refusing to be ordered about by coppers as a result is something worthy of being noted down for future reference. Anyone who won't just blindly follow orders is a potential threat it seems.

 

[Corax]

I'm assuming you'd prefer that the police didn't go through your stuff, in which case you are entirely within your rights to ask to see a warrant before you let them in your house. It doesn't hurt to remind the plod that a) they can't just do anything they want and b) that members of the general public are aware of their rights and won't have the piss taken.

Remember, the police are never looking for evidence that someone hasn't done something. They're never trying to 'just rule you out as a suspect'. What they do is try and pin something on the most convenient-looking suspect available to them, and whether that's you or somebody you might have taken photos of, showing them that evidence is only gonna increase the possibility of someone getting charged or convicted with something somewhere down the line.

Well said.

There's a video on YouTube somewhere of a well-respected American prosecutor delivering a university lecture where he says just that, explains it in detail, and illustrates it with cases. I know the US isn't the UK, but the principles are exactly the same.

 

[Corax]

I am struck by the image of a copper stood on my doorstep saying, 'oh, so you've got a conscience then?' and scribbling this fact in his notebook with a serious expression on his face.

And are you the legal owner of this conscience, sir?

 

[Corax]

Well said.

There's a video on YouTube somewhere of a well-respected American prosecutor delivering a university lecture where he says just that, explains it in detail, and illustrates it with cases. I know the US isn't the UK, but the principles are exactly the same.

I misremembered. It's not a lawyer - it's a US cop.

 

[FiFi]

Not unless they've kept paper records from CND marchs in the 80's

 

[SpookyFrank]

And are you the legal owner of this conscience, sir?

Init

 

[SpookyFrank]

I misremembered. It's not a lawyer - it's a US cop.

There's a video which precedes that one I think, that's the one with the prosecutor talking. He then calls the copper up to speak and the copper bascially says, yeah that's all true.

e2a: Yer 'tis

Spoiler

 

[Sprocket.]

I am not under surveillance but Mrs Sprocket is cos I bubbled her up to take the heat off me, perhaps I shouldn't have posted that!
Anyway if any of you folk at GCHQ fancy a party let us know and we will all come. Especially if you can claim for it all on expenses.

 

[Sprocket.]

Not unless they've kept paper records from CND marchs in the 80's

And Greenham Common protests, they are all in a warehouse in Clapham by the way!

 

[FiFi]

And Greenham Common protests, they are all in a warehouse in Clapham by the way!

That makes me a marked woman then!
The best I can hope for is that I can't be recognised from a 25yr old photo.

 

[tufty79]

Bumped for the day shift

 

[emanymton]

Kidda - my mistake. it's not new, but i read it the other night for the first time
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/11/domestic-extremist-police-databases#B fwiw..

That's a police fishing operation, if they don't have a file on you already they will bloody well start one if you send a letter like that in.

Hello Mr police man you may find me a person of interest.

 

[stowpirate]

I know I am being monitored by a member/friends of the Conservative Party. I highlighted the vile activities of a constituency agent on facebook. Contacted loads of MP's, Conservative, Lib Dem's and Labour by email. Nearly every time I post on the subject of this vile individual I get phone calls trying to silence me. Possibly by coincidence had my email account hacked twice and that of my other half's. Fully expect another attempt to silence me as a result of this post.

 

[bignose1]

my favourite bit of being arrested was calling one of them a cunt, and his mate turning round and going 'yeah, he is'.
they put me in a headlock when i mentioned kennedy though

I got nicked about 4 years ago outside a pub, following a game when United clinched the league ...after some guy with a red smoke flare handed it to me for about 4 seconds. I then passed it on but this cop came from nowhere and nicked me. He was a right cunt with an angry face but I tried to humour him...'flare cop' I said which had the people gathered round in stitches. He cuffed me up and was calling me a smart arse..and we'll see how funny you are when we let you out Monday. I thought in for a penny in for a pound and continued to do his head in. He tightened the cuffs I said I was into S &M so fine by me.

He then searched me and came across my work id pass...'Oh I bet they will be pleased to hear about this' I replied, 'probably not mate' ..the fellah you said fuck off old man to was my boss ( the big boss that is..not a manager) and it was on camera(mobile)...your in the shit mate..he's well connected' At which he blurted, 'couldnt give a fuck mate'...... Well long story short ..the cop van was stuck in traffic..bit of a riot going on up the road so he wrote me an on the spot £80'er and let me out.

I went back to the pub and they had a whip round which came to £165 quid so thats the fine sorted and a bit spare for later. As for the cop .. well my boss, a straight talking geezer did go for it...big time... and the jobsworth was hauled in. Apparently 3rd occasion in 12 months so they put him on an equality course. Letter of apology blah blah. I see the twat every so often and he wont...cant make eye contact. Obviously no rookie but a total old skool copper...probably been in the TAG and got too fat, old and slow..probably failed his Seargants exam and being a couple of years off retirement he's probably determined to take it out on the public for his shit life and the fact that he will shortly have fuck all power anymore.

 

[bignose1]

I may be domestically extreame but nothing in my life is that active

Im domestically extreme usually the day before me mam visits....

 

[bignose1]

Only thing I know is the police took my car registration at the G8 camp at Stirling. That means I'm officially less dangerous to the British state than a Fiat Punto.

Most specific thing I heard was I might have been on the Economic League card index around the time of the Miners Strike. If I was, it would have been on the basis of being the chair of a tiny miners support group. Hardly earthshattering, code red stuff - but that was the random way it operated then, where they'd just stick somebody on a database on the strength of the odd newspaper report. Of course its all so much more targeted today....

A V8 Punto?...oh sorry G8....maybees they thought you'd cause Pandamonium...

 

[Delroy Booth]

When I see books or articles being published from ex-spooks, with bold claims of everyone being under surveillance and the extent of how deep mi5 is involved everything, I do think to myself what if these sorts of paranoia-inducing claims are exactly what the state wants to be out there, to make everyone suspicious of each other and keep people atomised. To make people think twice before getting involved in politics. What if it's exaggerated deliberately to frighten people away from attending things?

I'm not passing any sort of judgement on any particular individual's honesty, just grasping at general point. I don't doubt the state does have extensive binders full of trots either, just that surely another part of their strategy is to put about as much rumour, innuendo, mistrust and disruption as possible between people? We don't really help matters either by reacting with a) dystopian sci-fi survivalist leave-the-country hysteria or b) telling tales of all the times we've been hassled, pub bragging.

A lot of this is just mind games.

 

[Pickman's model]

And Greenham Common protests, they are all in a warehouse in Clapham by the way!

someone should say the game of sardines is over

 

[el-ahrairah]

i'm probably not under surveillance, though i imagine my name/s and a photo or two have made it into their files. worthing police were certainly keeping tabs on me half-heartedly, but there's not a lot to do in worthing.

 

[Pickman's model]

i'm probably not under surveillance, though i imagine my name/s and a photo or two have made it into their files. worthing police were certainly keeping tabs on me half-heartedly, but there's not a lot to do in worthing.

if you've signed a petition or sent a letter to the press your card's been marked my son

 

[el-ahrairah]

oh yeah, worthing police and surveillance.... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1439383/Ooh-Betty-Ive-got-a-stolen-police-radio.html

 

[ViolentPanda]

I know I am being monitored by a member/friends of the Conservative Party. I highlighted the vile activities of a constituency agent on facebook. Contacted loads of MP's, Conservative, Lib Dem's and Labour by email. Nearly every time I post on the subject of this vile individual I get phone calls trying to silence me. Possibly by coincidence had my email account hacked twice and that of my other half's. Fully expect another attempt to silence me as a result of this post.

Tory cunts will be Tory cunts. To expect them to be anything other than corrupt shysters and grovelling apologists for power is to indulge in a fantasy akin to a fairy tale. I say this as a person with a family member in the C & U Party. One trait many of them appear to share is a chippiness bordering on psychopathy about how they're "self-made", and how this qualifies them to pass judgement on everyone else.

You will note that my "abuse" above is based on quantified examples of corruption and shysterism both at local (constituency) and national level, whereas the Tory passing of judgement is usually based on prejudice and an inability to think critically.

BTW, do they disguise the phone number/have you dialled 1471? I'd be interested in any phone number, given how relatively-easy back-tracing is now, and given that harrassment by telephone is an actionable crime.