Netpol

Netpol

@netpol.org

Network for Police Monitoring monitors and resists excessive, discriminatory and violent policing in England, Wales and Scotland https://linktr.ee/netpol Secure 📩: NetpolAdmin@protonmail.com

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Netpol
@netpol.org

😷 Get our zine on masking at protests! New police powers have been introduced allowing police to designate an area a ‘mask-free zone’ for up to 24 hours. With disabled people and others now at high risk of arrest, what does solidarity mean? Artwork by @soofiya.bsky.social Netpol.org/MaskZine

Netpol
@netpol.org

Police "stormed" the Parents For Palestine block in July, terrifying families. Officers then targeted a Muslim family joining the march, after failing to protect them from racist harassment by counter-demonstrators. Read the full report at Netpol.org/Parents4Palestine

Netpol
@netpol.org

Under the Watchful Eye™ of the police's permanent, unregulated live facial recognition cameras, visit the street where everyone is a suspect

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan@london.gov.uk

I've always believed Oxford Street could be so much more than a road. Today we begin a new chapter as the nation’s high street goes traffic free, creating a place where people can spend time, enjoy the atmosphere and experience the very best of our city.

Netpol
@netpol.org

Under the Watchful Eye™ of the police's permanent, unregulated live facial recognition cameras, visit the street where everyone is a suspect

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan@london.gov.uk

I've always believed Oxford Street could be so much more than a road. Today we begin a new chapter as the nation’s high street goes traffic free, creating a place where people can spend time, enjoy the atmosphere and experience the very best of our city.

Netpol
@netpol.org

"“Palestine Action are the only organisation – or the most effective organisation – in the UK that that has had some success in stopping arms going to a genocide. I’m very sure that I will be on the right side of history." www.theguardian.com/books/2026/o...

theguardian.comTwo children’s laureates to give royalties to Sally Rooney after her UK sales haltedIrish and Welsh authors Chris Haughton and Nicola Davies show solidarity after Rooney’s support for Palestine Action
Netpol
@netpol.org

A member of our team was, inevitably, wearing a face mask while presenting the Netpol workshop at the Bristol Anarchist Bookfair today

Netpol@netpol.org

If you're at the Bristol Anarchist Bookfair today, we are running a workshop at the Trinity Centre on new police powers to impose 'mask-free zones' at protests. It kicks off at 11.50 so there's still time to head over!

Netpol
@netpol.org

This is today, for those in London

Corporate Watch@corporatewatch.bsky.social

Final Programme for THIS SAT Oct 24th - Pelican House - London We have a few tickets remaining so get yours NOW!! www.tickettailor.com/events/corpo...

Netpol
@netpol.org

If you're at the Bristol Anarchist Bookfair today, we are running a workshop at the Trinity Centre on new police powers to impose 'mask-free zones' at protests. It kicks off at 11.50 so there's still time to head over!

Netpol@netpol.org

Our new zine "To Mask is To Care" was launched yesterday and will be available online soon. You can pick one up for free, however, at our workshop the Bristol Anarchist Bookfair at the Trinity Centre on 24 October

Netpol
@netpol.org

We'll be at the Bristol Anarchist Bookfair today to give a workshop on the new police anti-masking powers - drop by the Trintiy Centre and come and see us! You can also pick up a paper copy of our new zine, or grab a digital version at Netpol.org/MaskZine

Netpol
@netpol.org

Protesters from Shut Down Leonard Southampton last night faced opposition from both a pro-Israel counter protest and the local far-right "patriots" group demanding the deportation of Palestinian demonstrators

Netpol
@netpol.org

What does the law say about masks at protests? This new power allows the police to designate an area a ‘mask free zone’ in a specific area (e.g. town centres) for 24 hours. When an order is imposed, simply wearing a face mask becomes an offence and the police could arrest you

Netpol
@netpol.org

Which protests are likely to be targeted for masking bans? It is unlikely to apply to every protest. Our expectation is that anti-fascists are the most likely to find themselves targeted.

Netpol reposted

Adam Standring
@adamstandring.bsky.social

This is a barefaced (and frankly cack-handed) bit of copaganda - basically, "aren't the French police awful, but how wonderful our police are different" As though Orgreave, Hillsborough, spycops, etc. etc. Haven't shown perfectly clearly how the British police have been agents of state power.

theguardian.comWhy are French police so violent? Their job is to protect the state, not the peopleOfficers are instruments of state whose job is to repress, rather than manage, public dissent

Netpol reposted

Defend Our Juries
@defendourjuries.bsky.social

Sally Rooney’s stand on Palestine is brave and humane, writes Zoe Williams The Normal People author’s determination to support Palestine Action, even if it means that her books are withdrawn from sale in the UK, makes a mockery of Britain’s terrorism laws. www.theguardian.com/books/2026/o...

theguardian.comSally Rooney’s stand on Palestine is brave and humaneThe Normal People author’s determination to support Palestine Action, even if it means that her books are withdrawn from sale in the UK makes a mockery of Britain’s terrorism laws
Netpol
@netpol.org

With new police anti-masking powers here, many are confused about the legality of wearing a mask at protests. Our new zine explains the new police powers and explores how we can stand in solidarity with those who cannot afford to go unmasked at protests. Order your copy now shorturl.at/httBh

Netpol reposted

Graeme Hayes
@graemehayes.bsky.social

Re the Defend Our Juries arrests under s13 TACT 2000 When folk point out amazed that those arrested under terrorism legislation are now more likely to be older white women I do wonder what they are essentially saying they would be fine with

Netpol
@netpol.org

"Her work should be celebrated and widely available​, not driven off the shelves of British bookshops because she refuses to be complicit in the suppression of solidarity with the Palestinian people" – Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

theguardian.comSally Rooney says she can no longer sell books in UK due to Palestine Action supportIrish writer of Normal People says she can no longer receive royalties from British sales and she cancelled UK trip due to fear of arrest
Netpol
@netpol.org

Respect to @defendourjuries.bsky.social for deciding in solidarity to hold their 31 Oct action at the US Embassy – to deliberately keep the inevitable police presence that follows them well away from the United Families & Friends annual deaths in custody procession, the same day in Westminster

Netpol
@netpol.org

At least five journalists, including two Leicester Gazette reporters, were arrested under the Terrorism Act outside the drone factory pressgazette.co.uk/media_law/fi...

pressgazette.co.ukAt least five journalists arrested at Palestine Action protestAt least five journalists were briefly arrested while covering a pro-Palestine Action protest in Leicester on Thursday.
Netpol@netpol.org

Police say they have arrested 35 people at a protest in Leicestershire on suspicion of having "material in support of" the proscribed group Palestine Action www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukBraunstone protest sees 35 held over 'Palestine Action support'Police arrest multiple people on suspicion of having "material in support of" the proscribed group.
Netpol
@netpol.org

Eyewitnesses have reported that as well as arresting people who were not holding a sign indicating support for Palestine Action, officers also arrested a number of journalists

Netpol
@netpol.org

In 1999, Netpol's campaigns coordinator helped organise the first United Families & Friends remembrance procession. Nobody imagined that eight Prime Ministers later, families would still have to march to demand police officers responsible for deaths face criminal charges netpol.org/2026/10/07/d...

Netpol
@netpol.org

Having previously urged organisers to cancel, the Metropolitan Police has restricted a student Palestine march and rally in London today to finish within 90 minutes and said anyone taking part must not wear a face covering. Anyone who breaches these conditions risks arrest

Netpol reposted

Saul Staniforth
@saulstaniforth.bsky.social

92 year old amputee & wheelchair user Donald Burgess was in his room in the care home holding a butter knife. The 2 police officers knew he had dementia but didn't know he had delirium from an infection. They pepper sprayed him, hit him with a baton & tasered him

Netpol
@netpol.org

Hampshire Police have imposed a "mask-free zone" order today from 11.00-17.00, covering most of central Southampton, in advance of a far right demonstration and an anti-fascist counter protest. This gives officers the power to arrest anyone wearing a face covering, regardless of whether they need to

Netpol reposted

Lad dracula
@andthecats.bsky.social

Big love to everyone who has contributed so far, an inspiring example of support and solidarity that knows no borders Just been paid? Donate now, let's get it over the line. Anything extra will go to legal costs for other comrades in similar situations 🖤✊❤️🏴 chuffed.org/project/2022...

Netpol
@netpol.org

Proscription was introduced to crush direct action against Britain's complicity in Israeli genocide. Does Miliband think all the arrests – all for signs saying "I oppose genocide” as well as expressing support for Palestine Action – were about something else? www.middleeasteye.net/news/miliban...

middleeasteye.netMiliband ‘looking at’ whether Palestine Action ban was sensible, argues mass arrests 'unintended'Foreign secretary's remarks at Labour conference come after arrests made at protest against ban on the direct action group
Netpol
@netpol.org

If anyone is struggling to understand how our media and politicians are still talking about an RAF Fairford "bomb plot" when there were no bombs found, then the Forest Gate raid in 2006 is a useful comparison en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_...

Netpol reposted

Saul Staniforth
@saulstaniforth.bsky.social

Miliband: "To the millions in this country.. who have been moved & outraged by the plight of the Palestinian people, we hear you. You were right" So scrap the proscription of Palestine Action. End all arms exports to Israel. Impose sanctions on the Israeli govt & economy.

Netpol
@netpol.org

This poll also says as many participants think giving the police more powers to restrict protests is good as those who said it's bad. Protest rights that challenge powerful interests are never popular, right up to the moment people suddenly discover they need them www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...

theguardian.comFailure to protect free speech could cost Labour votes at next election, says LibertyPolling for rights group shows issue is concern for voters and many feel recent policies have had negative effect
Netpol
@netpol.org

Hot take: it's impossible to "market" the idea of protest rights to a society that vigorously demonises campaigners and encourages the idea that political change is impractical and extreme and polls like this are a poor use of resources. Our rights are defended only when we get out and use them

Netpol reposted

End Deportations Belfast
@enddbelfast.bsky.social

Unbelievable scenes on the Garvaghy Road. PSNI tactics have been incendiary, heavy-handed & discriminatory. Your reminder of the Sam McBride interview in June that detailed PSNI doing loyalist paramilitary road closure work for them on the Newtownards Road during the June 2026 racist pogroms. [1/2]

Netpol
@netpol.org

Thanks to everyone who came to Netpol's London Anarchist Bookfair workshop yesterday - so many were shocked to hear for the first time about the implications of the new mask-free zone legislation and that's what makes holding these events worthwhile. We are holding our next workshop in Bristol

Netpol
@netpol.org

Our new zine "To Mask is To Care" was launched yesterday and will be available online soon. You can pick one up for free, however, at our workshop the Bristol Anarchist Bookfair at the Trinity Centre on 24 October

Netpol
@netpol.org

Restrictions on face masks were in place yesterday in Sheffield (South Yorkshire Police) and Dudley (West Midlands Police) for far-right protests and antifascist counter-protests. Despite this it doesn't seem that officers decided to enforce the mask-free zone orders and make arrests.