After facing accusations of Sussex Police 'Protest Liaison Officers' being used for Intelligence gathering by Police watch dogs on twitter, I went to Sussex Police & got their side of the story direct from them.
The twitter feed that prompted my interest and subsequent interview with Sussex Police 'Protest Liaison Officers' is transcribed below. I was interested to hear what they had to say in answer to the allegations of intelligence gathering & making unannounced visits alleged protestors.
@copwatcher
Brighton's "Protest Liaison Officers", busy with unannounced visits to activists' homes, are on Twitter: @SusPolPLO
@SusPolPLO
@alantshearer @copwatcher Wanting to facilitate protests through engagement, need to speak to people somehow in order to do this.
@SusPolPLO
@SusPolPLO @alantshearer @copwatcher With the groups that engage with me I arrange how best to contact them.
@SusPolPLO
@SusPolPLO @alantshearer @copwatcher I proactively seek to speak to all groups, visits are part of my attempts to engage.
@SusPolPLO
@alantshearer @copwatcher No I have never been involved in preventative arrests, that is NOT the role of a PLO.
@policemonitor
@alantshearer @SusPolPLO Would also be interested in written policy of Sussex police on role of PLO - could Netpol have a copy too?
@policemonitor
@alantshearer @SusPolPLO would also like to know how/where info from 'dialogue and communication' is recorded, retained and who has access.
@copwatcher
@alantshearer sorry have been away from Twitter. Didn't mean to imply pre-emptive arrests, just unannounced visits.
After some digging I managed to get an interview with the PLO team who gave an explanation of how the team worked and they refute the Intelligence gathering claim. I am still in negotiations with the other people from the twitter feed to get interviews and more evidence from them.
@copwatcher
Brighton's "Protest Liaison Officers", busy with unannounced visits to activists' homes, are on Twitter: @SusPolPLO
@SusPolPLO
@alantshearer @copwatcher Wanting to facilitate protests through engagement, need to speak to people somehow in order to do this.
@SusPolPLO
@SusPolPLO @alantshearer @copwatcher With the groups that engage with me I arrange how best to contact them.
@SusPolPLO
@SusPolPLO @alantshearer @copwatcher I proactively seek to speak to all groups, visits are part of my attempts to engage.
@SusPolPLO
@alantshearer @copwatcher No I have never been involved in preventative arrests, that is NOT the role of a PLO.
@policemonitor
@alantshearer @SusPolPLO Would also be interested in written policy of Sussex police on role of PLO - could Netpol have a copy too?
@policemonitor
@alantshearer @SusPolPLO would also like to know how/where info from 'dialogue and communication' is recorded, retained and who has access.
@copwatcher
@alantshearer sorry have been away from Twitter. Didn't mean to imply pre-emptive arrests, just unannounced visits.
After some digging I managed to get an interview with the PLO team who gave an explanation of how the team worked and they refute the Intelligence gathering claim. I am still in negotiations with the other people from the twitter feed to get interviews and more evidence from them.
e-mail:
Homepage:
Comments
Hide the following 2 comments
You can throw a copper futher than you can trust them
29.09.2012 17:38
Of course turning up at someones home is going to be perceived as harassment.
"If you don't tell us your plans we have to hit you with our batons" is the underlyimg message.
ACAB
Don't get mad....
30.09.2012 10:17
Eye told yopu so.