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| Six journalists sue the British police over spying revelations | Six journalists sue the British police over spying revelations |
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| A group of six journalists are taking legal action against London's Metropolitan Police and the Home Office after it was revealed that they had been been under government surveillance for years — and had even been listed as 'domestic extremists'. | A group of six journalists are taking legal action against London's Metropolitan Police and the Home Office after it was revealed that they had been been under government surveillance for years — and had even been listed as 'domestic extremists'. |
| Surveillance records, obtained via public records request, detailed the extent to which they police had been spying — reams of documents, including family members' medical history, that led one of the claimants to compare the Met Police to "the Stasi". | Surveillance records, obtained via public records request, detailed the extent to which they police had been spying — reams of documents, including family members' medical history, that led one of the claimants to compare the Met Police to "the Stasi". |
| They were all targets of the Yard’s National Domestic Extremism and Disorder Intelligence Unit (NDEDIU). | They were all targets of the Yard’s National Domestic Extremism and Disorder Intelligence Unit (NDEDIU). |
| According to a statement from the National Union of Journalists, the political policing this case demonstrates "threatens press freedom." | According to a statement from the National Union of Journalists, the political policing this case demonstrates "threatens press freedom." |
| The organisation, which has hired Bhatt Murphy Solicitors to take the case, said that the lawsuit is just the latest step in a years-long running campaign against the chilling effect — government suppression of free speech. | The organisation, which has hired Bhatt Murphy Solicitors to take the case, said that the lawsuit is just the latest step in a years-long running campaign against the chilling effect — government suppression of free speech. |
| "This is another extremely worrying example of the police monitoring journalists who are undertaking their proper duties," UK journalism professor Paul Lashmar told the AP. | "This is another extremely worrying example of the police monitoring journalists who are undertaking their proper duties," UK journalism professor Paul Lashmar told the AP. |
| One of the spied-upon, 21-year-old Times journalist Jules Mattson said: "While some of what I've seen in my files is almost amusing up to a point, it's also sinister and upsetting. | One of the spied-upon, 21-year-old Times journalist Jules Mattson said: "While some of what I've seen in my files is almost amusing up to a point, it's also sinister and upsetting. |
| "It appears that records of every time I've been a victim of crime have been transferred to the domestic extremism unit with details of my phone number and past addresses, appearance, childhood and even a family member's medical history recorded." | "It appears that records of every time I've been a victim of crime have been transferred to the domestic extremism unit with details of my phone number and past addresses, appearance, childhood and even a family member's medical history recorded." |
| Another, 44-year-old freelancer Jason Parkinson said he received 12 pages of 140 surveillance logs spanning nearly a decade: "The files make it very clear they have been monitoring my movements, with whom I associate and even what clothing I wear, in order for police intelligence units to build up a profile of me and my network of associates and contacts. | Another, 44-year-old freelancer Jason Parkinson said he received 12 pages of 140 surveillance logs spanning nearly a decade: "The files make it very clear they have been monitoring my movements, with whom I associate and even what clothing I wear, in order for police intelligence units to build up a profile of me and my network of associates and contacts. |
| Both he and fellow journalist likened the Met to "the Stasi". | |
| Mark Thomas said the 'domestic extremist' database on which he and his peers feature "seems to be part of a disturbing police spying network, from the Stephen Lawrence family campaign to Hillsborough families, from undercover officers' relationships with women to the role of the police in the construction blacklist." | Mark Thomas said the 'domestic extremist' database on which he and his peers feature "seems to be part of a disturbing police spying network, from the Stephen Lawrence family campaign to Hillsborough families, from undercover officers' relationships with women to the role of the police in the construction blacklist." |
| The Home Office declined to comment, and the Met Police would only confirm that it had received a "letter before action". | The Home Office declined to comment, and the Met Police would only confirm that it had received a "letter before action". |