Over at The Guardian, a story that reaffirms every fear one has about the overbearing state:
For John Catt, protest has never been about chaining himself to a railing or blocking a road in an act of civil disobedience. The 85-year-old peace campaigner's far milder form of dissent typically involves turning up at a demonstration with his daughter, Linda, taking out his sketch pad and drawing the scene.
However this, it seems, has been enough for police to classify Catt and his 50-year-old daughter "domestic extremists", put their personal information on a clandestine national database and record their political activities in minute detail.
Secret files have revealed how police have systematically documented their political activities, undermining official claims that only hardcore activists were placed under surveillance.
The National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU) recorded their presence at more than 80 lawful demonstrations over four years, logging details such as their appearance, and slogans on their T-shirts.
And it goes on, along with a video interview with both Catts which features extraordinary footage of the police monitoring lawful protesters at events ranging from demonstrations to art exhibitions. The article also notes that the police have used the Automatic Number Plate Recognition programme to monitor the movements of peaceful protesters, and have recorded the names of those who exercised the right to attend court proceedings and watch justice done from court public galleries.
Read the whole thing, and weep.
By Alex Deane
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