Preventing Political Violence in Britain: An Evaluation of over Forty Years of Undercover Policing of Political Groups Involved in Protest

Stefano Bonino, Lambros Kaoullas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This article offers a first academic evaluation of the Special Demonstration Squad and the National Public Order Intelligence Unit, two British undercover police units working for the Metropolitan Police Service at different times between 1968 and 2011. It provides a historical overview of their infiltration of political groups involved in protest for the purpose of gathering criminal and political intelligence aimed at preventing violence, public disorder, and subversion. It discusses the controversies surrounding these units, and the related institutional responses, and offers an attempt at understanding their operations within the remit of intelligence-led policing and against a political culture that prioritizes action over inaction in reducing risks and threats to the State and society.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)814-840
JournalStudies in Conflict and Terrorism
Volume38
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2015

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Preventing Political Violence in Britain: An Evaluation of over Forty Years of Undercover Policing of Political Groups Involved in Protest'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this