How does the National Domestic Extremism Unit approach peaceful protest?
"The National Domestic Extremism Unit, which incorporates NPOIU, NDET and NETCU, is only concerned with those who choose to commit serious criminal offence in the name of protest.
"Single issue protest campaigns are regularly facilitated by police and local authorities who each have a duty to uphold the democratic rights of individuals and groups to protest in public.
"However, in recent years, a small number of groups and individuals have pursued a determined course of criminal activity designed to disrupt the public peace and lawful business, and at worst, repeatedly victimise selected individuals.
"The point at which the police service becomes interested in individuals is the point at which the law is broken, or there is conspiracy to break the law. The units do a great deal to assist forces in facilitating peaceful, lawful protest.
"The National Domestic Extremism Unit never has been and never will be concerned with those who choose to protest peacefully and lawfully. The unit is only concerned with those who commit serious criminal offences in furtherance of their campaign.
"We are not concerned with those who choose to sit down in the road or fasten themselves to gates to protest - we are only concerned with those who commit serious offences.
"This activity has ranged from blackmail and serious intimidation in the name of animal rights; bombing campaigns by violent and racist individuals associated with far right wing groups; violent disorder from left wing or anarchist individuals, to large scale criminal damage against scientific GM crops studies and mass aggravated trespass or unlawful obstruction of lawful businesses associated with the national infrastructure of our country, such as power stations and airports by those who's stated aim is to stop any business perceived to harm the environment."
You can find more information about our approach to peaceful protest here.
