(86 Year Old Peace And Human Rights) Protester To Sue (British) Police Over Secret Surveillance

[Turborama]

Source: The Guardian

John Catt, aged 86, has had his presence at peaceful protests systematically logged by secretive police unit over four years
Rob Evans and Paul Lewis | Tuesday May 3 2011

An 86-year-old man has been granted permission to launch a lawsuit against police chiefs who have classified him as a "domestic extremist" and kept a detailed record of his political activities on a clandestine database.

John Catt, who has no criminal record, is bringing the high court action against a secretive police unit which systematically logged his presence at more than 55 peace and human rights protests over a four-year period.

Some of the entries record his habit of taking out his sketch pad and drawing the scene at demonstrations. Other entries contain notes on his appearance – such as "clean shaven" – and the slogans on his clothes.

His lawsuit will challenge the power of police to compile secret files on law-abiding protesters.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/may/03/protester-sue-police-secret-surveillance

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A Sussex Action for Peace protest in Brighton: Police made records
of John Catt's attendence at a number of protests organised by the group.
Photograph: Ian Waldie/Getty Images