Elite team of cops to monitor anti-migrant social media posts to clamp down on unrest as critics blast ‘disturbing' move
Detectives are being handpicked from forces across the UK to take part in the new programme amid fears of rioting as the small boats crisis escalates.
Advertisement
3
The new unit will monitor social media posts about immigration
Credit: UKNIP
3
The step has been slammed as an attack on freedom of speech
Credit: Getty
3
Lucy Connolly was sentenced to 31 months in prison for her misinformed posts about Southport
Credit: PA
The division, overseen by the Home Office, will look to "maximise social media intelligence" gathering after forces were slammed for their response to last year's unrest.
Protests outside asylum hotels is continuing to heat up, with crowds gathering yesterday in the likes of Norwich, Leeds and Bournemouth - and more demonstrations planned today.
Deputy PM Angela Rayner warned the Cabinet last week that the Government must step in to address "real concerns" about immigration.
However, critics have labelled the social media policing plans as "disturbing" and questioned if it further restricts freedom of speech.
Advertisement
The National Internet Intelligence Investigations team, will work out of the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC) in Westminster.
The NPoCC provides the central planning for forces across the UK in terms of "nationally significant protests" and civil disorder.
And enforced lockdown rules during the Covid pandemic.
Lucy Connolly fury
It comes after Tory councillor Raymond Connolly's wife
account just hours after evil
murdered three girls in the Merseyside town on July 29 last year.
Advertisement
Most read in The Sun
Breaking
Ms Connolly, 41, shared a call to arms following the deaths of Bebe King, six, nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, last July.
Posts wrongly claimed monster
Ms Connelly's punishment sparked fury across the political divide.
16 arrested after protests outside Epping migrant hotel as ring of steel ramps up around TWO asylum seeker centres
Furious Brits noted that despite the former child minder quickly deleting her post, she remains in prison while paedos such as Hugh Edwards escaped jail time.
Advertisement
Referring to the social media cops, Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, told the
"They're setting up a central team to monitor what you post, what you share, what you think, because deep down they know the public don't buy what they're selling."
He added Labour are no longer "pretending" to fix Britain and are now "trying to mute it" - turning the country into a "surveillance state".
Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, said: 'This is the beginning of the state controlling free speech. It is sinister, dangerous and must be fought. Reform UK will do just that.'
Advertisement
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
9 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Letters: New garda commissioner Justin Kelly has a big job ahead as he tries to turn force around
While I, like many others, am delighted to see a homegrown member succeed to the highest echelons of the force, Justin Kelly will have his work cut out for him given the myriad problems facing him, including the recently published Crowe report. The dogs on the street know that the present model of policing just doesn't work and has been shown to be more of a hindrance than a help to both the public and to gardaí. Mr Kelly's main tasks will be recruitment and retention of gardaí, and to stem the flow of resignations which has dogged the force these past number of years. While the Government has ramped up its attempts to recruit, the expected increase in numbers hasn't materialised. Morale in the force has been at an all-time low, with many frontline gardaí I've spoken to concerned that the amalgamation of divisions, reduction in districts and closure of smaller stations expose them and the public to unnecessary dangers. The issue of over-discipline and internal oversight will be another factor he will have to contend with. While he may have master's in criminal justice and in serious crime, Mr Kelly will have to master an ingrained and faulty ideology that has caused major friction between the garda associations and the office of commissioner itself. How he will handle all of these issues, while attempting to appease his political overlords and those in the PCSA (Policing and Community Safety Authority), while governing a force in transformation and change, is anyone's guess. What makes him tick, and how will he use his management skills to radically change the narrative and bring together a force that has seen a huge chasm between those at the top and those who risk their lives on our behalf every day? Well, the proof will definitely be in the pudding. Christy Galligan, Letterkenny, Co Donegal Stop sneering – remote working can unlock huge potential of rural Ireland Sinéad Ryan and others in the media appear to be taking great delight in AIB's decision to force staff back to the office three days per week ('AIB wants its staff back to the office more – they should consider themselves lucky', Irish Independent, August 1). As a public servant who worked almost exclusively from home during the pandemic, I have written at length to this newspaper and elected representatives on this topic (all on my own time, I might add). Working from home is not always ideal. While one is sometimes more able to focus on specific tasks, there can also be domestic distractions and it can be isolating too. I will admit there is an increased sense of collegiality and more opportunities for collaboration when working from the office. However, remote working, by its very nature, can be done from a number of different locations. Most effectively, perhaps, from one of the many state-of-the art 'remote hubs' the government spent millions on establishing around the country during Covid and which are now, for the most part, gathering dust. This largely untapped resource could be the key to unlocking a new digital decentralisation. These hubs could effectively become branch offices, allowing people from remote regions to live and work, settle down and start families in their own locality. Negating the need for long commutes or relocation to already congested and expensive urban areas. Breathing new life into rural towns which are currently in decline. If the public sector took the lead on this (it was public money spent on these hubs, after all) others would surely follow. It would sure beat reading endless opinion pieces by mean-spirited columnists gloating about spoiled workers being dragged back to the office by tough, uncompromising, bombastic bosses. Yawn… Paddy Sharkey, Kilcar, Co Donegal Digital divide in literacy poses serious risks to the future of our democracy A century ago, mass literacy helped build liberal democracy; today, its erosion may accelerate its decline. Long-form reading – the kind that trains attention, deep reasoning and tolerance for complexity – is quietly becoming a class-based skill. As smartphones colonise ever more of daily life, this cognitive bifurcation will harden. We already see the outlines: elites paying fees to shield their children from screens, while poorer families navigate algorithm-driven content designed to addict. The result is not just cultural decay but political vulnerability. A distracted electorate, trained on dopamine loops and meme-slop, is less able to scrutinise policy, follow evidence or defend democratic norms. Ireland, with a highly educated population, still young in its republic, would do well to recognise this as a national risk. Literacy was once the route to dignity. If it is allowed to drift into the realm of the privileged, we may soon find that the real digital divide was not access to devices but the ability to think beyond them. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran, Co Armagh Disgusting racist attacks on Indian community do not represent real Ireland The increasing number of physical attacks on members of the Indian community living in Ireland (which have led to the Indian embassy issuing a safety advisory notice) is a cause of growing concern. To think that the Indian constitution was significantly influenced by the Irish Constitution, and in particular the shared provision for government to promote the social and economic welfare of all the people. How the founders of our Constitution must be turning in their graves at today's horrendous racist attacks. Mark Hogan, Wicklow town Gavin's Football Review Committee has been real winner this GAA season After the camogie final next Sunday, the 'hooter' on GAA inter-county season 2025 will sound, leaving only speculation and opinion as to the teams of the year and the players of the season. I have for many weeks now, settled on my team of 2025, namely, the Football Review Committee captained by Jim Gavin. The captain and his team have certainly put in the graft, have stuck to their game plan, with perceptive flexibility as needed, and haven't shirked their essential responsibilities. Thus, they have scored championship-winning goals in the radical reappraisal and rehabilitation of Gaelic football. My only concern now is, that if this team features again next year, football will galvanise itself as 'the new hurling' of the GAA world, an anathema for a Kilkenny man.
The Irish Sun
18 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Migrant ‘tried to kidnap a little girl, 10,' while living in 3-star taxpayer-funded asylum hotel in leafy suburb
Edris Abdelrazig was arrested for allegedly trying to lure away the girl while she was with her father KIDNAP CHARGE Migrant 'tried to kidnap a little girl, 10,' while living in 3-star taxpayer-funded asylum hotel in leafy suburb A MIGRANT from a taxpayer-funded asylum hotel has been charged with attempting to kidnap a child, The Sun can reveal. The Sudanese man appeared in court accused of attempting to swipe the girl of ten while she was with her father. Advertisement Edris Abdelrazig, 30, in Stockport, Gtr Manchester, was arrested for allegedly trying to lure away the girl on July 13. He had been living in a three-star, £100-a-night hotel in leafy Manchester suburb Wilmslow. Prosecutors say he travelled two miles south, where he made the attempt at taking the child near the Walnut Tree Playing Field. Abdelrazig appeared before JPs on July 15. Advertisement He was remanded in custody to appear at Manchester crown court on August 26. It comes after claims of a cover-up because police told councillors in Nuneaton, Warks, to avoid disclosing that two suspects in the rape of a 12-year-old girl were asylum seekers. Warwickshire county council's leader, Reform UK's George Finch, said he had written to the Home Office to demand all asylum seekers be moved elsewhere. A Government spokeswoman said: 'Foreign nationals who commit crimes should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced and justice delivered.' Advertisement SHAMELESS Migrant who entered UK with child abuse vids gives thumbs up as he's spared jail 1 The incident happened near the Walnut Tree Playing Field Credit: Google Street View
The Irish Sun
20 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Brit Channel 4 stars detained in Iran on espionage charges ‘moved to separate prisons after being subjected to torture'
The couple's worried family revealed that they hadn't had any direct contact with them since their initial incarceration PRISON HELL Brit Channel 4 stars detained in Iran on espionage charges 'moved to separate prisons after being subjected to torture' THE British Channel 4 stars currently detained in Iran on espionage charges have reportedly been moved to separate prisons after being subjected to torture. Husband and wife Craig and Lindsay Foreman have spent over half-a-year days in jail since being detained during a round-the-world motorbike trip. Advertisement 6 Craig and Lindsay Foreman have spent over half-a-year in an Iranian jail since being arrested on spy charges Credit: Rex 6 The British couple had been on a round-the-world motorcycle trip Credit: Facebook/PPK2K RTW Motorcycle Mission 6 Ever since their incarceration, the pair have hardly spoken to their loved ones and mainly had contact with the Foreign Office Credit: Rex The Brits entered Iran despite being warned by the Foreign Office and their family to avoid passing through the notoriously strict state. The couple, both in their 50s, were held back in January on unspecified espionage charges. The Iranian government claimed they were 'posing as tourists' to gather intelligence against the Middle East nation. The couple's worried family revealed that they hadn't had any direct contact with them since their initial incarceration. Advertisement And the Foreign Office said, until recent weeks, it couldn't confirm their whereabouts. Now, it's thought the couple have been cruelly separated and moved from a security detention facility in Kerman, the Daily Mail reports. Lindsay Foreman was recently transferred to Qarchak Prison, meanwhile her husband Craig was moved to Greater Tehran Prison, according to information obtained by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights. The two prisons are over 20 miles from one another. Advertisement The charity also claimed in a statement that during their detention in Kerman, the Brits were "'subjected to severe pressure and torture aimed at extracting forced confessions". It added how their family has become understandably increasingly concerned and their well-being - especially considering the recent heightened tensions between Israel and Iran. Brit brother & sister, 11 & 13, who drowned on Spain beach as dad tried to save them had begged for 'one last swim' The pair first travelled into Iran from Armenia on December 30, and reportedly planned to leave by January 4, as they headed for Australia. While in Iran they visited Tabriz, the capital Tehran, and Isfahan before staying in Kerman. Advertisement It was here where they were picked up by police and arrested. At the time, the Foreign Office said the couples arrest had "caused significant concern". The couple, who had previously been featured on Channel 4's A New Life in the Sun, had ignored pleas from friends, family and the Foreign Office (FCDO) not to enter Iran. FCDO guidance explicitly warns against all travel to the country, cautioning that British citizens could be arrested simply for their nationality. Advertisement Despite this, the pair acknowledged the extreme risk in a social media post on December 30. It read: 'Despite the advice of friends, family, and the FCDO (which strongly advises against travel to Iran for British nationals), we've chosen to keep moving forward. 6 The pair shared pictures of them in Iran before their arrest Credit: Facebook/PPK2K RTW Motorcycle Mission 6 Brit couple Craig & Lindsay Foreman (whose faces were blurred) meeting British ambassador Hugo Shorter Credit: X/Iran Nuances Advertisement 6 The couple were warned not to travel to Iran by their family and friends Credit: Rex 'Why? Because we believe that, no matter where you are in the world, most people are good, kind humans striving for a meaningful life. Yes, we're aware of the risks. 'We also know the rewards of meeting incredible people, hearing their stories, and seeing the breathtaking landscapes of these regions could far outweigh the fear.' The UK government has been urged to act quickly to try and free the pair. Advertisement Richard Ratcliffe, whose wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was imprisoned in Iran for six years, urged officials to move faster than they did in her case. He said: 'My heart goes out to them, and I hope they are not in for a long ordeal, and that the government is able to respond more promptly than it did in our case."
