A few months ago it emerged that the police unit responsible for spying on protesters (the NPOIU) had seen their annual budget dramatically double in recent years. It was raised from 2.5million to around 5million.
No Police Spies can reveal that the extra millions came directly from Home Office grants. All money beforehand had come out of the budgets of UK police forces. This news comes following questions put to the Home Secretary by Member of Parliament Austin Mitchell after he held a meeting with the No Police Spies campaign last week.
The excessive money wasted on the spying of protesters has been a key aspect to the scandal. Former undercover cop Mark Kennedy revealed to the Mail on Sunday that his minders “squandered millions” on flash cars, luxury penthouses, and expensive restaurants.
A question now to be asked is why, in 2007, the Home Office felt it necessary to augment the spy unit’s budget so generously? What threat were they responding to? What protest groups were they so scared of? Was the decision politically motivated?
A further question, perhaps, is why the Home Office has no idea where the money they gave so freely ended up? When asked for details of the pay and expenses of undercover officers, the Home Office point out they don’t hold such information. You’d think they’d want to know how a small unit was racing through 5million pounds each year at their expense.
Needless to say, the doubling of their budget did not happen on the current government’s watch, which begs the question of why are they not seizing the iniative and ensuring the issue gets the thorough scrutiny it deserves?