About NETCU
This page is about NETCU and the police response to domestic extremism.
What is NETCU?
NETCU stands for the National Extremism Tactical Coordination Unit. It is a national policing unit set up by ACPO to respond to the threat of domestic extremism in England and Wales.
NETCU is a small unit made up of a number of police officers and support staff. Our work is overseen by a National Coordinator for Domestic Extremism who reports to ACPO's Terrorism and Allied Matters Committee.
What do you do?
NETCU is not an operational unit, meaning that we do not actively investigate criminal activity. Our role is to support others to prevent, reduce and disrupt criminal activity associated with domestic extremism and single issue campaigning.
To do this, we work with police forces across the country to provide tactical advice and guidance in order to promote a coordinated and consistent approach to tackling domestic extremism.
We support industry, academia and other organisations that have been targeted or could be targeted by extremists, providing security advice, risk assessments and information that can help minimise disruption and keep their employees safe.
We also provide the Government and our partners in the police service, Crown Prosecution Service and industry with information about trends and types of domestic extremist incidents and crimes.
NETCU and lawful protest
The policing of domestic extremism focuses on criminal activity or potential crime and disorder sometimes associated with single-issue campaigns.
NETCU fully supports people's right to demonstrate lawfully and we recognise that most protest campaigns are conducted peacefully and legally.
However, we also recognise that within some campaigns there are a small minority of individuals with extreme views and who are prepared to break the law in order to further their cause. These individuals sometimes try to hide their illegal activities by associating themselves with otherwise lawful campaign groups. Our work focuses on that criminal minority and not the majority of lawful campaigners.
Our objectives
- Support the police service in the delivery of a professional, effective and proportionate response to domestic extremism.
- To prevent, reduce and wherever possible, remove the threat, criminality and public disorder that arises from domestic extremism in England and Wales.
- Support industry and other organisations in building their resilience when targeted by domestic extremism campaigns.
- Support our partners in the wider police service, criminal justice system and HM Government departments.
- Communicate the work of the police service in respect of domestic extremism to our stakeholders and the general public
