Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- What is NETCU?
- Why was NETCU formed?
- What is 'domestic extremism'?
- What about the right to freedom of expression and assembly?
- Where can I get advice on dealing with domestic extremism?
- A domestic extremist campaign has targeted me/my organisation. What should I do?
- What is 'animal rights extremism'?
- Does NETCU's role mean it supports the use of animals for research?
- Animal rights extremists have contacted me/my organisation. What should I do?
What is NETCU?
NETCU stands for the National Extremism Tactical Coordination Unit. It is a non-operational, specialist police unit that deals domestic extremism, including animal rights extremism.
NETCU provides tactical guidance to the police service on policing extremist protest activity and its associated criminality. It also provides advice, guidance and information to key stakeholders in Government, industry and other agencies.
The unit is led by an experienced police officer. It is funded by the Home Office and reports to the Association of Chief Police Officers Terrorism and Allied Matters – ACPO(TAM).
TOPˆWhy was NETCU formed?
The tactics that extremist activists use in protest have changed significantly.
Domestic extremists, in particular, animal rights extremists, do not confine their activities to a single target organisation. In tactics known as 'secondary' and 'tertiary' targeting, domestic and animal rights extremists target suppliers, contractors, sub-contractors, shareholders, service providers and employees at their homes and in their communities.
The terror tactics of animal rights extremism are being adopted by other single-issue groups. This means that criminal activity by domestic extremists often forms part of a linked series of crimes that is likely to be geographically wide-spread, across a number of police force boundaries.
Establishing national policing units enables a consistent, coordinated approach to tackling domestic extremism.
TOPˆWhat is 'domestic extremism'?
The term 'domestic extremism' refers to unlawful action that is part of a protest or campaign. It applies to:
- Any criminal or recognisably anti-social act – such as abusive language, threatening behaviour, criminal damage and assault
- that has the purpose of disrupting lawful business or intimidation
- in order to achieve protest or campaign objectives.
It does not apply to lawful protest or campaigning activity.
Domestic extremism is most often associated with campaigns focused around a single issue, such as animal rights, anti-globalisation and anti-GM (genetically modified) crops. Single-issue campaigns have sometimes formed in response to specific incidents, for example, the fuel and anti-war protests.
The majority of people involved in single-issue protest campaign lawfully.
However, there is a small minority of activists who engage in criminal and anti-social activities, seeking to achieve campaign objectives through harassment and intimidation.
TOPˆWhat about the right to freedom of expression and assembly?
NETCU and the other law enforcement agencies fully support the right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Their work does not affect the right to take part in peaceful and lawful protest.
The use of the terms 'extremism' and 'extremist' refers solely to protesters who promote or commit criminal acts to further their campaigns.
Domestic extremists go beyond the bounds of peaceful protest in what they do and how they operate in the conduct of campaigns.
TOPˆWhere can I get advice on dealing with domestic extremism?
NETCU acts as a centralised support service to industry helping organisations to withstand domestic extremist campaigns.
We liaise with business and the academic sector to assess risk and provide proactive tactical guidance, advice and support on a one-to-one basis.
We also provide information and updates about on-going incidents.
TOPˆA domestic extremist campaign has targeted me/my organisation. What should I do?
It is important that organisations and their employees report all incidents of domestic extremist activity, whatever the level of severity.
The tactics activists use in a domestic extremist campaign start with non-threatening, lawful actions that escalate to intimidating, criminal activity.
Domestic extremists do not only target the organisation that is the focus of the campaign – the 'primary target'. They will also target organisations and individuals that have links to the primary target.
If domestic extremists contact you or your organisation you should report it to the appropriate authority. This may be the security manager/adviser at your place of work or your local police force.
In emergencies, you should phone '999'.
Go to 'Reporting domestic extremist crime' for information on how to report incidents
TOPˆWhat is 'animal rights extremism'?
Animal rights extremism (ARE) is the most common form of 'domestic extremism'.
Animal rights extremists want animal research to stop and seek to force change through criminal actions.
ARE is defined as:
- Any unlawful or, if not actually unlawful, recognisably anti-social act,
- motivated by an intention to disrupt lawful business or to intimidate,
- perceived by any party involved to be rooted in opposition to the perceived exploitation of animals.
The criminal activity can include mass trespass, abusive phone calls, theft, damage to property, demonstrations at home addresses, cyber attacks, malicious communications and even physical assault, although this is very rare.
Animal rights extremists have conducted a sustained campaign against the animal research industry. This includes targeting organisations and individuals with any links to the animal research industry.
If animal rights extremists contact you or your organisation, you should not enter dialogue with them. You should contact the appropriate authority to report the incident.
Go to 'Reporting domestic extremist crime' for more information on how to report incidents.
TOPˆDoes NETCU's role mean it supports the use of animals for research?
NETCU is impartial and does not enter debate on the use of animals in research.
The role of the police service, including NETCU, is to prevent crime or, where crime has happened, to investigate it and detect it.
The police service neither supports nor condemns the use of animals in research; our role is impartial on this matter. The use of animals in research is lawful in the UK at properly licences premises and operates within one of the world's strictest licensing and regulatory frameworks.
We have a duty to uphold the right to lawful employment without fear of intimidation, harassment or other criminality.
We also have a duty to uphold the right to lawful and peaceful protest.
Our role supporting organisations and individuals in the animal research industry fulfils the need to protect victims and potential victims of crime.
TOPˆAnimal rights extremists have contacted me/my organisation. What should I do?
Organisations and their employees should not enter into dialogue with animal rights extremists or any other domestic extremist group.
Whether you are at work or a home, it is important that you do not discuss any matter with domestic extremists.
Animal rights extremist tactics start with non-threatening, lawful actions – such as polite phone calls, email and letters – that escalate to intimidating, criminal activity.
If you receive a phone call, email, letter or other communication from domestic extremists and you are at work you should inform the security manager/adviser in the organisation you work for. They will liaise with the local police.
If extremists communicate with you and you are at home, you should inform your local police force.
If it is an emergency, for example, you have received a suspicious package, you should phone '999' and ask for the police.
Go to 'Reporting domestic extremist crime' for more information on how to report incidents.
