Archive
Clear, hold, build: the UK’s new ‘neighbourhood’ policing strategy built on colonial military practice
The UK's new policing strategy, “Clear, Hold, Build”, has deep roots in colonial and military strategy. While it has been re-branded as a successful, community-centric approach, it has resulted in police targeting of some of society’s most marginalised groups. This historical analysis shows how its imperial doctrine represents an introduction of colonial military methods meant to dominate, rather than uplift, local communities. Read More
The decline of rights under UK’s Labour: 2024-2026
The UK has had a Labour party government for nearly two years. Despite Prime Minister Keir Starmer promising that change would "begin immediately", under his watch the government has continued, and at times intensified, a crackdown on civil liberties begun by his Conservative predecessors. The result is more surveillance, greater potential for police abuse and the criminalisation of nearly all meaningful forms of protest. Read More
Submission to Home Office consultation on a new legal framework for law enforcement use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies
On 12 January, Statewatch responded to the Home Office’s consultation on developing a new legal framework for governing the use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies. Read More
Swiss government urged to rethink mass telecoms surveillance plan
The Swiss government should halt its plans to extend the widespread surveillance of telecommunications, says a letter signed by 19 organisations including Statewatch. The country’s federal government is planning to revise a law that obliges telecoms companies to retain data about users, in case it is of interest to the police. The letter warns this would violate rights, run counter to European jurisprudence, and create huge cybersecurity risks. Read More
Film screening: Viva Palastina: Reason of Resistance
Join MayDay Rooms, the Palestinian Youth Movement Britain and Statewatch for a screening of the documentary 'Viva Palastina: Reason of Resistance', examining the repression of the Palestinian solidarity movement in Germany. Read More
Greece: Criminal law used to target civil society organisations
The Greek government's latest move to stifle the work of civil society groups has been condemned by more than 70 organisations, including Statewatch, as unjust, unlawful and unreasonable. Read More
EU member states want to expand police surveillance of travel
In the name of fighting crime and terrorism, EU law requires mandatory police surveillance of international air travel. Governments are now considering surveillance of all other modes of transport, in particular maritime travel. They also want to use data for new purposes, such as immigration control. A working group has been set up to consider new legal proposals. Read More
UK: ‘Radio Nick’: a private spy hired by the police
In October, a court case led to the exposure of a private spy who had been hired by the police to infilitrate multiple campaign groups for almost a decade, Nick Gratwick. A new report by the Undercover Research Group documents Gratwick's activities in the late 1990s and early 2000s in detail. The case highlights the lack of laws and regulations governing private intelligence agents. Read More
How the EU migration pact will increase harms in Serbia and along the Balkan route
The EU's Pact on Migration and Asylum is likely to send the situation for migrants and refugees in the Balkans from bad to worse: more containment of people on the move through cruel tactics such as policing and pushbacks; more bureaucracy and digital controls, without protection or safeguards; and a further closure of civic space. Real protection requires a different approach. Read More
Exporter la “gestion” carcérale des migrations : 30 millions d’euros de l’UE vers le Sénégal
30 millions d’euros provenant du budget d’aide au développement de l’UE ont été alloués au Sénégal pour le contrôle des migrations. L’examen de documents de la Commission européenne met clairement en évidence l’objectif principal de ce financement : la surveillance et le contrôle des frontières, l’interception maritime des personnes tentant de quitter le Sénégal pour rejoindre le territoire européen, ainsi que les infrastructures d’accueil/détention. Read More