National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit

National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit
Abbreviation NETCU
Predecessor National Public Order Intelligence Unit
Successor National Domestic Extremism Unit
Formation May 2004
Extinction 2011
Type Government agency
Purpose Monitoring of extremist groups in the UK
Location
  • Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE29 9AL
Region served
 UK
Parent organization
 Association of Chief Police Officers
Website NETCU

The National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit (NETCU) was a British police organisation funded by, and reporting to, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) that coordinates police action against groups in the United Kingdom it describes as extremist.

Structure

As of April 2007, it was headed by Superintendent Steve Pearl.[1] Because the ACPO is not a public body but rather a private limited company, NETCU is exempt from freedom of information laws and other kinds of public accountability, even though they are funded by the Home Office and deploy police officers from regional forces.[2]

Background

"NETCU provides tactical advice and guidance on policing single-issue domestic extremism. The unit also supports companies and other organisations that are the targets of domestic extremism campaigns. NETCU reports through the National Coordinator for Domestic Extremism (NCDE) to the Association of Chief Police Officers Terrorism and Allied Matters - ACPO(TAM) committee."[3]

NETCU answers to the Association of Chief Police Officers' (ACPO) Terrorism and Allied Matters Committee, and in particular to ACPO's National Coordinator for Domestic Extremism, Detective Chief Superintendent Adrian Tudway.[4] It works with the Home Office, and the National Public Order Intelligence Unit.[5]

The unit was created in or around May 2004 to coordinate police action in relation to animal rights campaigns. It is based in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, which has been a focal point for animal rights activism as a result of the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty campaign.[6]

Apart from animal rights groups, it has also investigated the UK Life League, a direct action pro-life group that protests outside abortion clinics.[7]

Takeover by the Metropolitan Police

In November 2010 it was announced that the three ACPO units commanded by the National Coordinator for Domestic Extremism would be rebranded as the National Domestic Extremism Unit and brought under the control of the Metropolitan Police by Summer 2011.[8]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Copping, Jasper. "Animal rights extremists target farmers", The Sunday Telegraph, April 14, 2007.
  2. ↑ Monbiot, George. As the political consensus collapses, now all dissenters face suppression. The Guardian. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  3. ↑ leaked NETCU policing document, photos of leaked document
  4. ↑ DCS Adrian Tudway appointed new National Coordinator for Domestic Extremism, NDEU/NETCU, 15 November 2010, accessed 10 January 2011
  5. ↑ "ACPO welcomes 'economic damage' amendment to serious organised crime and police bill", press release, Association of Chief Police Officers, January 31, 2005.
  6. ↑ NETCU contact page
  7. ↑ Laville, Sandra. "Anti-abortionists turn sights on schools and hospitals in US-style campaign", The Guardian, March 27, 2006.
  8. ↑ "Police on 'tightrope' at protests". Press Association. 23 November 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-25.

Further reading