Archive
Document: Trends and dynamics in international right-wing extremism and terrorism
A document circulated in the Council of the EU in early July on the issue of international right-wing extremism and terrorism. The note says: "Transnational links between foreign VRWE groups are increasing, with the phenomenon of accelerationism posing the most concerning threat." Read More
EU prepares to give US direct access to police and immigration databases
The massive increase in violent immigration raids, detention and deportation underway in the US has put off many people from visiting the country. Soon there may be yet another reason to think twice about taking a trip to the “land of the free”: US immigration and law enforcement agencies could be given the power to search European databases, to identify people posing “a threat to US security.” Read More
Document: Exploitation of new technologies for extremist and terrorist purposes
A note from the Polish presidency of the Council of the EU to the Terrorism Working Party, circulated on 20 June 2025. Read More
Greece: Illegal, violent deportations: the heavy toll of seeking asylum in Europe
Asylum seekers in Lesvos report that violent pushbacks by masked Greek coastguard forces persist, involving physical abuse, strip searches, theft, and potential use of migrants as auxiliaries. Read More
UK: Peaceful protesters treated as terrorists as politicians fuel far-right activity
Thousands of police were deployed to London last weekend to arrest more than 500 peaceful protesters, as racist protests took place across the country. There is a relentless crackdown on foreign nationals, now including immediate deportation for any non-citizen convicted of a criminal offence. Critics warn that mainstream political rhetoric is legitimating and fuelling violent far-right activity. Read More
UK: More than 200 organisations sign open letter in response to anti-refugee protests
More than 200 refugee organisations, charities, trade unions and more have signed an open letter to party leaders today condemning the anti-refugee protests that took place across the weekend. Statewatch is a signatory to the letter. Read More
EU police chiefs seek limits to “ambitious overhaul” of Europol
Another upgrade to the powers of EU police agency Europol is in the works. The European Commission wants to see an “ambitious overhaul” so it can become “truly operational.” European police chiefs, however, are sceptical. A “strategic debate” amongst member state delegations is ongoing, but remains behind closed doors. Read More
UK: Undercover policing: new archive sheds light on the spycops scandal
In 2010, a police spy was uncovered in the UK environmental movement. His exposure set off a chain of events that led the government to announce an official Undercover Policing Inquiry. Now, a new archive gathers all the documents released by that inquiry since public hearings began in 2020. It is designed to help activists continue the fight against political policing and state secrecy, and to push for transparency and accountability. Read More
Police racism and criminalisation across Europe increasingly fuelled by digital ‘prediction’ and profiling systems
London, 30 June 2025 – The civil liberties organisation Statewatch has published a report that reveals how police and criminal legal system authorities across Europe are using data-based, algorithmic and AI systems to ‘predict’ where crimes may occur and profile people as criminals, despite the EU’s apparent ban on so-called ‘predictive policing’ systems in the Artificial Intelligence Act. Read More
UK: Electronic tagging: the normalisation of a “fascist or totalitarian” technology
Electronic tagging has long been a controversial means of monitoring and restricting the movement of people outside of prisons. The British government is expanding the use of electronic tagging against people with criminal convictions, asylum seekers and migrants. A report from 1989, held in the Statewatch Library & Archive, shows remarkably fierce opposition to the practice from what might seem an unlikely source: the Prison Officers’ Association. Read More