Civil Liberty - Police 'spotter cards' revealed

Police 'spotter cards' are used by various police forces to identify individuals they consider troublemakers at protests and demos, even though most of the individuals pictured on the cards probably don't have a criminal record and are intent on peaceful protest only.

Each demonstration will invariably have a different 'spotter card' made available depending on who is involved in the protests.

The photographs will have been taken at previous protests across the country by Forward Intelligence Teams (FITS) from various police forces so that a library of photographs is available to officers. At protests in Leeds attended by Civil Liberty a couple of years back, FITS were present taking photographs from the Met in London, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Fife police forces.

In response to this development, the Metropolitan Police said: "This is an appropriate tactic used by police to help them identify people at specific events..who may instigate offences or disorder."

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