Demonstration against the BNP Event in Derbyshire : Surveillance Operations

These are some of the assorted police assigned to surveillance operations, watching those protesting against the BNP Red White and Blue fun fest.

Most deployed were local 'Evidence Gathering' EG police from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. These have always had a wide blunderbuss approach to photography, photographing anything that moves, without being entirely sure why.

The other species present there were the lesser spotted FIT. These are a lot more targeted outfit with the idea of following / watching and generally being 'in-your-face' style of work.

In the past, FIT officers, primarily based within the operations of CO11 Public Order Branch of the Metropolitan Police, were to have been seen around the country sporting their blue / yellow tabards.

With the climate created by outfits like FITwatch, and much more resistance from their subjects ... they have seamed to me to be making an effort to 'blend in' much more. They appear to be far less forward in fact. But, believe me, they are still there, providing and gleening info. Advising the local police and generally being about.

Some of the usual suspects seen there were PC Ian Skivens CO5494 [Commissioners Office], Paul Mather PC 4551 from Staffordshire. I saw another one there who, I'm told is notoriously shy. PC CO5466 Cowlin. You see from some of the pictures above, that he had an undue amount of trouble with his hat. It seemed to forever need adjusting, just as I was taking his picture. Perhaps a size bigger from stores might have helped. But I managed anyway, thanks.


Fitwatch
 http://www.fitwatch.blogspot.com

Fossil Fools Blockade E.On Offices Surveillance and Specialist Equipment
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395429.html

Surveillance at Demo at Heckler & Koch weapons manufacturers HQ in Nottingham
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/05/398414.html

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ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email:  tash@indymedia.org
Member of the National Union of Journalists [No: 014345]
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"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
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