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.
