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The National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU) is a UK police intelligence unit set up in March 1999 to track green activists and public demonstrations. The NPOIU incorporated the Animal Rights National Index, established in 1989,^[1] and is based at Scotland Yard.^[2][3][4] The Unit is led by an officer of the rank of Detective Superintendent^[5], currently Maria Smith of Wiltshire Constabulary.^[6] The unit has a staff of 60-70 officers and police staff, seconded from other forces, and had a budget of £5 million for 2009-10.^[7] An ACPO spokesman says it incorporates the Confidential Intelligence Unit.^[8]

According to HMIC the NPOIU "performs an intelligence function in relation to politically motivated disorder (not legitimate protests) on behalf of England, Wales and Scotland." by "co-ordinat[ing] the national collection, analysis, exploitation and dissemination of intelligence on the extremist threat to public order"^[9]. Andrew Gilligan described it as "a secretive, Scotland Yard-based police taskforce" whose "role in controlling dissent is central".^[10]

This work had previously been the responsibility of the various Special Branches.^[11][12] The NPOIU initially operated as part of the Metropolitan Police Special Branch,^[9] and is now part of the Specialist Operations Business Group.^[13]

Strathclyde Police were criticised by pacifist demonstrators at the Faslane nuclear submarine base, after their details were sent to the Unit.^[14] Anti-GM food protesters and Muslim university students have also been the target of surveillance by the Unit.^[15][16]

Confidential Intelligence Unit

The Confidential Intelligence Unit was set up in 1999^[8] by the Association of Chief Police Officers of England & Wales to spy on left-wing and right-wing political groups throughout the UK.^[17]

The Unit is led by an officer of the rank of Detective Chief Inspector.^[5]

See also

• National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit
• National Domestic Extremism Team

References

1. ^ "How scarves and woollies slaughtered a trade" by Paul Vallely, The Independent, 6 January 1995
2. ^ Police unit to target green protesters by Jason Bennetto, The Independent, 7 November 1998, accessed 18 February 2009
3. ^ `Terrorist methods' of green activists `set terrorist snares' by Jason Bennetto, The Independent, 19 March 1999, accessed 18 February 2009
4. ^ Secret State Timeline, BBC Thursday, 17 October, 2002, accessed 17 February 2009
5. ^ ^{a b} Head of Confidential Intelligence Unit (CIU) National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU), ACPO website, cache accessed 18 February 2009
6. ^ BAWP Grapevine Autumn 2006, British Association for Women in Policing, September 2006, accessed 12 November 2009
7. ^ Written Answers for 10 November 2009 David Hanson MP, Minister of State (Crime and Policing), Home Office, 10 November 2009, accessed 12 November 2009
8. ^ ^{a b} We are all extremists now by Seumas Milne, The Guardian, 16 February 2009, accessed 18 February 2009
9. ^ ^{a b} A Need to Know: HMIC thematic inspection of Special Branch and Ports policing, HMIC, January 2003, accessed 18 February 2009
10. ^ "Spooks on the trail of 'Captain Gatso'" by Andrew Gilligan, Evening Standard, 12 September 2005
11. ^ "Special Branch to target protesters" by Jason Bennetto, The Independent, 3 November 1994
12. ^ "Crackdown on green terrorists" by Jason Bennetto, The Independent, 29 December 1994
13. ^ MPA Revenue and Capital Budget Book 2007/08, Metropolitan Police Authority, 24 April 2007, accessed 18 February 2009
14. ^ "Anger over data use", Evening Times (Glasgow), 22 November 2002
15. ^ "Anarchists 'hijacking' GM food protest groups" by Nigel Rosser, Evening Standard, 11 August 1999
16. ^ Counter-terrorism unit to tackle campus extremism by Roya Nikkhah, Daily Telegraph, 24 October 2006, accessed 19 February 2009
17. ^ Secret police unit set up to spy on British 'domestic extremists' by Jason Lewis, published Mail On-Line, 7 February 2009, accessed 16 February 2009