New UK law to criminalise activists for thought crime: UK becoming a police state?

goingundergroundRT

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In this episode of Going Underground, Afshin Rattansi talks to blogger Scriptonite on the new ASBO bill which could restrict protests around the country. The new law grants local authorities, police and even private security firms sweeping powers to bar citizens from assembling lawfully in public spaces. Afshin also looks at Britain’s plans to train Myanmar’s army on human rights and fact that not all UK citizens know Britain’s already in the the EU.

A heads up to all activists/bloggers

in the UK

21 November 2013

http://netpol.org/2013/11/21/subject-acccess-requests/

As the National Union of Journalists encourages members whose work brings them into contact with the police to challenge their inclusion on the national ‘domestic extremist’ database, NetPol is urging activists and campaigners to do the same.

Using the Data Protection Act, activists can submit Subject Access requests to the Metropolitan Police to check what information is held about them by the National Domestic Extremism Unit (NDEU). NetPol wants to see all secret police databases shut down, because there is every reason to believe that data gathered in secret, with no checks and balances and no effective accountability, is not only unnecessary and intrusive but also riddled with gossip and rumour.

The results of a Subject Access Request remain private – nobody has any obligation to share personal data. However, if you discover inaccuracies or trivial information in any data that the police hold, we would like to work with you, in confidence, to expose this.

NetPol has produced a guide and sample request and follow-up letters to help you make a Subject Access Request. If you are submitting one, please let us know about any delays, other obstacles you experience and what you discover at info@netpol.org

Please share this post on Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #ScrapNDEU

DOWNLOAD

NetPol Subject Access Requests Guide (PDF)

Sample letters (Word)

Sample letters (Open Office)