The CIU coordinates surveillance against domestic extremists, which might include a wide range of campaigners and activists.
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) covers Northern Ireland, as well as England and Wales. As ACPO’s remit includes the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and within it the Confidential Intelligence Unit, it must be assumed that both operate in Northern Ireland. This will come as a surprise to many, because, even though the general public would be aware of MI5 having offices in and operating in Northern Ireland, these other two organisations have been “flying below the radar”. Given that the former Chief Constable of Northern Ireland, Sir. Hugh Orde, is now President of ACPO, one can further assume that campaigns and activities in Northern Ireland are being observed/monitored.
The CIU is run by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), which operates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Therefore the remit of the CIU does not extend to Scotland.
There is a scottish equivalent to ACPO, called ACPOS. There does not appear to be an equivalent to the CIU within ACPOS but it is possible. Also, given that the prevention of terrorism is reserved by the UK Parliament (although all other justice matters have been develoved to the Scottish Parliament) it is possible that there is cooperation between ACPO and ACPOS on the work of the CIU.
The Confidential Intelligence Unit (CIU) was established in 1999 by the Association of Chief Police Officers to monitor terrorist activity. It is actually not a part of the Police, but a private company.
Since February 2009, there has been a significant re-definition of its remit. According to the Guardian (ACPO’s own website doesn’t have any information about CIU!), CIU is ‘now coordinating surveillance and infiltration of "domestic extremists", including anti-war protestors, trade unionists taking part in secondary industrial action, animal rights organisations and other groups – though only if they break the law, or worryingly if they ‘seek to break the law’.
This does not mean that all campaigns and campaigners are now being monitored. But it is something that all campaigners, especially those involved in high-profile direct action campaigns, should be at least aware of.
What is of particular concern is the ambiguous definition of ‘extremists’. ACPOs spokesperson conceded to the Guardian that “there doesn't seem to be a single, commonly agreed definition”. Which means that protest, dissent, and industrial action (which are all actually lawful, and indeed are enshrined in your Human Rights) could be subject to monitoring.
Separate to the role of the Confidential Intelligence Unit, the Guardian makes claims that the Police might hold a database of thousands of activists. This is something the Police deny. Regardless of whether there is a database or not, this Guardian video shows the way in which both activists and the media might be monitored by the Police.
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