UAVs, new weapons systems to fight Maoists
New Delhi: To be one step ahead in fight against insurgents and the Maoists, India’s premier research and development organisation, DRDO, is developing a whole set of technologies and weapons system, which will help the security forces in the low intensity conflict zone. [oneindia.in] Defence Research and Development Organisation is providing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), […]
MIGRANT HANGAR REOPENED IN CALAIS
At 10am today, the No Borders network (1) officially reopened the Kronstad Hangar (2) in Calais to the migrant population. This follows the first public opening on Saturday 6th February, and the subsequent violent police eviction the following day (3). The major of Calais ordered the eviction of the Hangar on alleged grounds that the […]
‚Eye in the sky‘ arrest of a teenage thief could land police in court
An "eye in the sky" arrest of a teenager fleeing from a stolen car using a surveillance drone could land police in court after it emerged it did not have permission to be in the air. [telegraph.co.uk] The arrest, by Merseyside Police, was hailed as a landmark success in policing history in a statement released […]
EADS Defence & Security delivers second batch of DRAC UAVs to French Ministry of Defence
On 25 January 2010, EADS Defence & Security delivered 35 specially modified new unmanned air vehicle (UAV) DRAC systems to the French Army to enhance its capabilities in mountainous terrain. [shephard.co.uk] This delivery took place at the end of a series of ground-based and in-flight verification operations launched in November 2009 and carried out together […]
Future police: Meet the UK’s armed robot drones
By David Hambling Police forces all over the UK will soon be able to draw on unmanned aircraft from a national fleet, according to Home Office plans. Last month it was revealed that modified military aircraft drones will carry out surveillance on everyone from protesters and antisocial motorists to fly-tippers, and will be in place in […]
Liverpool police make first mini-chopper arrest
by Nick Webster Police in the Liverpool region made Britain’s first ever arrest using a camera mounted on a remote control eye-in-the-sky mini-helicopter. [clicklancashire.com] Thermal images from a camera mounted on the drone were used to track down a suspected car thief hiding under cover of thick fog in the Sefton area. The device – […]
EU-US Agreement on the Transfer of Financial Messaging Data for purposes of the Terrorist Finance Tracking Programme
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION PRESS RELEASE Brussels, 9 February 2010 The Council adopted today the following declaration on the EU-US Agreement on the Transfer of Financial Messaging Data for purposes of the Terrorist Finance Tracking Programme: "In June 2009 the Commission presented draft negotiation guidelines for a short-term TFTP Agreement to the Council. At […]
The Stockholm Programme: 1984 is here
“1984 is here, no really, this time we’re not lying , honest. “ A personal slant on the disturbing confluence of the a ever more sophiscated and extensive controlling and surveilling techonolgy on the one hand, and increaslingly repressive legislation on the other. For those of you who have the time to read Statewatch reports: […]
French riot police on standby as migrants join activists in Calais warehouse
Adam Sage in Paris French riot police are on standby to evacuate migrants from a warehouse in Calais after ministers expressed concern that the building could become a base for those trying to reach Britain. [timesonline.co.uk] Up to 90 migrants, mainly Afghan, broke through a police cordon to gain access to the warehouse, which was […]
Police blockade newly-opened space for migrants and activists in Calais
For Immediate Release: 06/02/10 Yesterday, despite a heavy police presence migrants successfully entered the newly-opened Kronstadt hangar at the invitation of NoBorders activists. The hangar is intended to be a space for information-sharing, debate and practical solidarity. Together, around 100 activists and migrants broke through police lines chanting “Freedom! Freedom!”. Riot police in full body […]
Thales Partners With Schiebel For French DGA VTOL UAV Trials
In December 2009, the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) selected Schiebel’s unmanned aerial system Camcopter S-100 to run a series of comprehensive trials to assess the operational advantages of a VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) UAV system. [spacedaily.com] These trials will take place during the first half of 2010 on various sites representative of land […]
Malta threatens to pull out of EU’s border agency
Malta will stop participating in the European Union’s border agency Frontex’s Mediterranean operations, unless proposals on where intercepted illegal immigrants should be held are changed, Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici said Monday. [earthtimes.org] The European Council’s draft guidelines propose that migrants picked up at sea must be sent to the country hosting the Frontex mission, […]
INDECT: Evaluation of Components
This deliverable presents an initial overview of components within the system under development in INDECT project. In the research carried out by INDECT partners, new concepts and technological results are being delivered as parts of integrated INDECT security system. This system will have impact on security of citizens in the European Union. [indect-project.eu] Most of […]
Hi! My name is L.
In march of 2010 in Moscow takes place forum “Libertarian Communism-2010” (more about it in English: http://avtonom.org/en/node/6327). We prepare a seminar there about securitization politic in Russia and European countries. The main issue: We want to collect information about processes occurring in West and East Europe in the filed of police and secret service reforming […]
Riot Police Complain Of Corruption As Demonstrations Rock Russia
Just as a wave of demonstrations is sweeping Russia, an elite battalion of OMON riot police in Moscow has appealed to President Dmitry Medvedev, complaining of rampant abuse among police commanders. [rferl.org] The letter was published by the independent "Novoye vremya" magazine. The officers complain that battalion commander Sergei Yevtikov has demanded that each officer […]
Fortress Europe Starts With Greece
By Apostolis Fortiadis When Michalis Chrisohoidis, Greek minister of citizens‘ protection announced that FRONTEX, the European Agency for Border Control and Protection, would double its representation in this country in spring, it was clear that Greece is being charged with special responsibilities to apprehend and repatriate illegal migrants into Europe. [ipsnews.net] Speaking at a United […]
Yahoo, Verizon: Our Spy Capabilities Would ‘Shock’, ‘Confuse’ Consumers
By Kim Zetter Want to know how much phone companies and internet service providers charge to funnel your private communications or records to U.S. law enforcement and spy agencies? [wired.com] That’s the question muckraker and Indiana University graduate student Christopher Soghoian asked all agencies within the Department of Justice, under a Freedom of Information Act […]
Nigerian police set all round 3-point agenda on reform, image building
[apanews.net] The Nigerian police command on Sunday in Abuja set a three-point agenda for the force renowned for its brutality, corruption and undemocratic practices. Mr Ogbonna Onovo, the Inspector General of Police, unveiled the blueprint which included the implementation of government’s white paper on police reform, and renewed commitment to combating violent crime. It also […]
Global Risks 2010
A Global Risk Network Report A World Economic Forum Report in collaboration with Citi Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC) Swiss Re Wharton School Risk Center Zurich Financial Services
Haiti: Council agrees coordinated EU response to UN appeal
[consilium.europa.eu] Today, the Foreign Affairs Council agreed, in response to a specific request from the United Nations, that EU member states will provide: – engineering expertise and equipment to open routes to facilitate aid, – a maritime logistic capability which can operate without port facilities, as well as – a collective EU contribution of a […]