On Thursday 9th February 2012 at 10.00am, in the Royal Courts of Justice, the Strand, London WC2A 2LL, there will be a Judicial Review of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), a private limited company, and the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, for the running of a controversial £9 million publicly funded secret 'domestic extremist' intelligence database about political activists.

The case is brought by 87 year old anti-war activist, John Catt, labelled a 'domestic extremist' for expressing his political views through protest and artwork. His political activities, appearance and dress have been clandestinely, systematically and routinely monitored and stored on the database which includes sensitive data.

He particularly became the focus of police surveillance for regularly protesting against American multinational arms manufacturer, EDO/ITT in Brighton. John only discovered that this data was being held about him after repeated requests under the Data Protection Act.

The 'domestic extremist' database is run by the discredited National Public Order Intelligence Unit(NPOIU), under the command of ACPO and/or the Metropolitan Police. It was this same unit which employed under-cover police spy, Mark Kennedy, to infiltrate environmental groups for several years. It also spent £3 million of public money on spy cameras targeting Muslims in Birmingham. They provoked such an outcry that they had to be withdrawn.

John Catt is challenging the legality of the database under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (right to private life), the Data Protection Act 1998 (breach of legislation on personal and sensitive personal data) and on the basis that it is irrational. He is calling for the destruction of the data held about him. If successful, the case could have far reaching consequences for 'Big Brother' State surveillance and intelligence gathering of protesters and dissidents.

This will be a very interesting hearing about civil liberties. Please attend and watch and the Met and ACPO be put under the spotlight as they try and wriggle out of their web of deceit, confusion and lack of accountability.

PREVIOUS REPORTS ON THE NEWSWIRE

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/05/478744.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/05/478694.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/07/454719.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/05/430975.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/05/430880.html

AND ELSEWHERE

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jun/25/peace-campaigner-classified-domestic-extremist
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/may/03/protester-sue-police-secret-surveillance