POLICE are using a network of hundreds of paid informants to feed them information about protest groups, according to secret recordings made by a potential recruit.<\/p>\n
A member of the climate-change protest group, Plane Stupid, has released a series of recorded discussions with officers apparently offering her money to spy on fellow activists.<\/p>\n
Matilda Gifford, 24, says she was approached by Strathclyde Police last month after being released on bail following a demonstration at Aberdeen airport.<\/p>\n
In a series of discussions with police, recorded by Miss Gifford, an officer attempting to recruit her is quoted as saying \u201cUK plc can afford more than 20 quid\u201d.<\/p>\n
The tax-free cash would be in exchange for information on individuals within the climate-change protest group and would not be paid into her bank account for fear of leaving an audit trail.<\/p>\n
She was also told that her continued involvement with Plane Stupid could lead to her having difficulties finding employment in the future if she ended up with a criminal record.<\/p>\n
In one section of the recording a police officer states hundreds of informants are on police books giving them information on a spectrum of organisations ranging from terror cells to environmental activists.<\/p>\n
The officer is quoted as saying: \u201cWe work with hundreds of people, believe me, ranging from terrorist organisations right through to whatever. To the others as we like to call them. Environmentalists.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have people who give us information on environmentalism, leftwing extremism, rightwing – you name it, we have the whole spectrum of reporting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Strathclyde Police stated the force \u201chad a responsibility to gather intelligence\u201d after admitting officers had had meetings with Plane Stupid activists.<\/p>\n
The Assistant Chief Constable of Strathcylde Police, George Hamilton, said: \u201cOfficers from Strathclyde Police have been in contact with a number of protesters who were involved with the Plane Stupid protests including Aberdeen airport.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that the purpose of the meetings was to make sure future protests were carried out within the law and respected the rights of all concerned.<\/p>\n
Plane Stupid, a direct action group fighting against airport expansion since 2005, maintains the attempted police infiltration of the group was an attempt to curtail people\u2019s right to protest.<\/p>\n
Lawyers for Plane Stupid have been able to identify the officers invovled.<\/p>\n
A statement from Plane Stupid reads: \u201cOur civil liberties were invaded and our right to peaceful protest called into question simply to defend the interests of big business.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group\u2019s first protest was to release a barrage of rape alarms attached to helium balloons disrupting an international aviation conference being held in London.<\/p>\n
In a statement in its website Plane Stupid states it welcomed any actions in its name \u201cprovided they are non-violent and accountable and help further the struggle against airport expansion and greenhouse gas emissions from aviation.\u201d<\/p>\n