Campaign groups say hyper-militarisation of British policing agencies is ‘deeply troubling’Policing, border control and surveillance have become increasingly militarised in the UK and infiltrated by a “war mentality”, according to a report.It says there is an increasingly blurred line between the police and the military and that key areas including counter-terrorism, anti-protest policing, border control and the policing of gangs have adopted a war mentality.Mobile fingerprint scanners, which many police forces now use and are linked to the Home Office’s immigration and asylum biometric system, which holds the fingerprints of non-UK citizens who have entered the country.The Home Office biometrics programme, a new digital system to allow biometric and other data to be shared seamlessly between police, immigration enforcement and other government departments.Use of military-grade drones to patrol the Channel to carry out surveillance on asylum seekers crossing in small boats.A gangs matrix that profiles people believed to be gang members, whether or not they have committed any crime. A 2016 survey of the matrix by Amnesty International found that 87% of those on it were from BAME backgrounds. Continue reading...
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