Police have arrested Extinction Rebellion co-founder Roger Hallam for plotting to shut down Heathrow Airport using a drone. Photo: PETER MANNING/LNP
Police should be able to use covert surveillance of extremist protest groups to stop their criminal activities, a Government-commissioned study will suggest today.
The report warns that current surveillance rules, including wiretapping, are limiting the police's ability to gather information about plans by extremist protest groups to hold law-breaking protests.
The report will suggest that the Inspectorate of Police His Majesty conducted such a check. review the rules set out in the Regulation of Investigative Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 to establish how and when they can apply to plots by extremist protesters.
The report from Lord Walney, the independent adviser on political violence and disorder, said better intelligence could stop illegal protests before they start and act as a deterrent by making the plotters think they are unlikely to get away with it. /p>
The proposal is one of more than 40 recommendations in a long-awaited report on how ministers and government agencies can deal with violent and destructive protests.
In a speech at the launch of today's report, Lord Walney will warn that politicians are out of touch with public opinion, which considers protests that block public transport and roads or damage buildings and property unacceptable.
Just Stop Oil activists are causing traffic slowdowns in central London, but Lord Walney's report recommends that protest groups be forced to pay compensation for the disruption they cause. Photo: JAMIE LORRIMAN
He will urge politicians to «catch up» with the public, with polls showing they believe it is unacceptable to disrupt people's lives by a three to one majority.
Under RIPA, police can apply for a warrant from the Home Secretary to intercept mobile phone conversations if they believe a crime is being planned. This could extend to the installation of listening devices in homes or cars, although this is generally limited to terrorists planning a deadly attack. It also allows for video surveillance of suspects.
“Police officers will say they believe RIPA is set up in such a way that they cannot authorize sufficient covert surveillance of extremist protest groups,” a source said government. “This limits their ability to contain the most violent and destructive protests.”
“RIPA allows police to use a range of covert surveillance tools. These may be human sources. These may be interceptions, and such intelligence gathering is essential to containing the most extreme criminal protest movements.»
A former senior counter-terrorism officer said RIPA set a high threshold for its application, but it could be apply in the case of “an ongoing criminal campaign causing serious disruption.”
The source cited Extinction Rebellion's (XR) plan to close Heathrow Airport using drones as an example. «You are almost approaching the threshold of terrorism, putting lives at risk by diverting planes for political purposes,» the former officer said.
Lord Walney's report will also recommend protests. Groups like Just Stop Oil should be forced to pay compensation for the harm they cause to members of the public and businesses.
Under the plans, activists who deliberately block roads or cause obstructions will be required to pay court-ordered compensation to individuals, businesses or institutions that can prove they have suffered loss, suffering or distress as a result of protesting under the plans.< /p>
Lord Walney's review is also expected to recommend banning protest groups that regularly use criminal tactics to achieve their goals in a manner similar to terrorist organizations. The new category, called proscription-lite, could limit their fundraising and assembly rights in the UK.
Dame Priti Patel, the former home secretary, has pushed for greater use of compensation orders against groups such as Insulate Britain and Just Stop Oil. Credit: CARL COURT/GETTY IMAGES
Dame Priti Patel said on Monday that government lawyers had blocked plans to use force. protesters will pay compensation for the violations they caused three years ago.
The former home secretary said she had pushed for greater use of compensation orders against groups such as Insulate Britain and Just Stop Oil, but was thwarted by concerns about the practical difficulties of measures such as setting up a payment mechanism.
Dame Preeti said: “British society is fed up with irresponsible protesters hell-bent on causing damage and destruction. The damage, delays and missed appointments they cause impact lives and economies, and it is right that those responsible are brought to justice and made to pay.
“I have been campaigning for a long time to improve the situation. use of compensation orders in the criminal justice system, and made the case for this when I was in government through our Protests Bill.
“These measures could have been introduced three years ago, which would have resulted in increased protection against irresponsible and the selfish actions of some protesters and proper redress for their irresponsible and dangerous actions.»
Свежие комментарии