Outrage at Police over-reach at issue of letters demanding people inform on their workmates who are going to legal and peaceful anti-Trump demo.

Press Release for Together Against Trump.

Simon Magorian.

I have removed the name and phone number of the police officer from the text of the letter for obvious reasons.

I also have not been able to consult with the Unison rep or members of council staff who have been unwittingly dragged into this so I have not included their names out of courtesy.

Letters have been sent by the police demanding staff provide details of people who might be going to a lawful peaceful protest.


The text of the letter sent to council staff by the Director for children families and education, on behalf of the police, reference:
 "OP VISCOUNT D-DAY Intelligence requirement":

"•      On Wednesday the 5^th of June 2019 a number of international heads of states, royal family and other VIP`s will attend the 75th-anniversary celebrations of D-DAY in Southsea.

•      We ask that if you have any information relating to individuals you suspect may be seeking to disrupt this event (this includes concerns around terrorist activity, crime, disorder, and protests) you report this to the police intelligence team by means of using a CPI forms (community partnership information forms). The form and the guidance in how to complete these forms can be found at ; www.safe4me.co.uk.

•      We specifically request any information relating to the descriptions, associations, intent and capability, social media profiles, telephone numbers and vehicles linked to these individuals. When completing the CPI form please try and answer the following 6 questions to give us as much detail as possible: What; When; Where; Who; Why; and How"

There are several problems with the letter.

Firstly the utter impertinence of suggesting that staff wouldn't report terrorist concerns to the police over an event (or any event) such as this.

I can't imagine a member of staff sucking their teeth and saying

"that Nigel from accounts, he goes off to Al Qaeda training events in Bexhill on Sea all the time, do you think I should phone the police?"

If you have any genuine concerns over terrorism don't fill in a form try dialling 999.

 Secondly muddling up terrorism with peaceful protests. 

Protests which have been carefully coordinated with the police and with the consultation of council leaders from the outset. 
Also, Together Against Trump Portsmouth have some popular support, the group's online petition has garnered over
80,000  signatures against Trump's presence.

Demanding that people act as informants and provide information on their workmates is enough to make your flesh creep. This is the kind of thing the Stasi did.

The community Information forms require information on names, addresses, mobile nos, car plates etc.

Portsmouth Unison City Branch has made a formal complaint about this.

Extract below:

"UNISON wishes to lodge a formal complaint regarding the email below that has been circulated by Portsmouth City council management. 

UNISON members may wish to protest lawfully next week against the visit by Donald Trump, and UNISON finds it unacceptable that colleagues are asked to report other colleagues working for the council to the police who may wish to participate in a lawful protest. There is a protest planned and the organisers have already discussed and spoken to the Police and the leader of the council about this.

UNISON requests that this email is immediately withdrawn and that staff are not asked to report on other staff as there is a right to lawful protest and this may be misinterpreted by some staff. 

If our staff are aware of any criminal or terrorist activity, do you not think they would report that without needing prompting?"

From what we can gather the Deputy Leader of the Council has been contacted and is requesting having this letter withdrawn.

The whole situation is both ludicrous and outrageous.


 There is a considerable amount of ill will building as to the ludicrous behaviour of the security teams, including demanding that people living in properties on the seafront supply names of everyone who has lived in their properties for the last two years.
People have also been told that not only do they have to move their cars out of the area, but that failure to provide details of their vehicles will result in them being impounded.

People are getting extremely angry at how Trump's presence on the 5th is allowing the security services to run riot.

On D-Day, we are supposed to be saluting our veterans for defending our liberties, but now some locals are now referring to the current situation with overzealous security staff and massive steel fences as "The Occupation."

We are being treated by the security forces as if we are a subject people.

This will not stand.