\. ASSOCIATION OF CHIEF POLICE OFFICERS
OF ENGLAND, WALES AND NORTHERN IRELAND

'

. ··.:,.:..

,'

COUNCIL COMMITIEE ON TERRORISM AND ALLIED MATTERS

•'

,.,

..·.

,• , \

u

' :· ;:

€;/~

MINUTES OF MEETING

!!·).. :

(}

. -~:
,;·.
....

~ ·.

DATE:

THURSDAY 4 FEBRUARY 1999

LOCATION:

WESTON ON THE GREEN, OXFORDSHIRE
THAMES VALLEY

..

 :.;t

1/99/23

.

.
•, .·

ANIMAL RIGHTS NATIONAL INDEX/NATION~ PUBLIC ORDER
INTELLIGENCE UNIT • PROGRESS REPORT.

1

~

: . :l

·. -~
Mr Moss reported that he expected the National Public Order Intelligence Unit to be

. -~

.....f

operational by 1 April 1999. Negotiations were still continuing about the Terms of
Reference of the Unit, and a further draft would be circulated Imminently. The problem had
been the fonn used by some forces to include major sporting events and "travellers• within
the remit of the new Unit, which are areas which had not been ·traditionally monitored by
Special Branches. As a result, the original concept of a fully integrated unit might not be
easily attainable. It might be necessary to form a Central lntelligenc;:e Unit at New Scotland
Yard, as previously anticip_ated by an expansion of ARNI, to deal with pofrtical extremism,
race issues, and national pubfic order issues such as the Farmers dispute, and Millennium
related issues. This unit could be supported by the continu~d existence of the Northern
and Southern intelligence units which would deal with "travellers•, Section 61 offences and
major sporting events. These issues were being explored further, but would not affect the
establishment of the main unit on 1st April 1999.

..
·.J
.,
:i.,

·,."l
!

. J·'
. ·)
.!

?

:.1
1

. -1
·~
.·,

..

:;.,

'.]

Mr Moss said problems had also arisen over the funding of the new unit. The original idea
was that the MPS would act as the laad force for the new national unit and the funding
currently provided for ARN! by Home Office would pass into the MPS. In practice, the
funding was insufficient for the MPS to run the new unit and their Director of Finance had
~ised objections.

-~

. .
. .]

.. 1

. :J
. '.,,:~

.\

The Chairman pointed out there had been agreement at Chief Constables Council on the
way the new unit would be formed and how it would function. If this was not attainable it
was necessary to return to Council before any alternative solution was implemented.

.,
·. -i
.·

-J
-~

.~

Mr Wrench said whilst the Home Seaetary retained responsibility for ARNI it was not

·.··1

appropriate for him to head a Chain of Command for an operational policing unit and this
was the main reason for the new unit to be subsumed into the MPS. He was aware of the
funding issues and would contin~e to liaise with Mr Moss over them.

.J
.. ··1

Recognising the concerns raised members n9ted the current position on this subject. Mr
Moss would update members at the next meeting.

,

1

. .:l

.· 1

Action:
Mr Mou to report
proereu to next meeting.

i

.i
i
l

.j

•
j

I

l

J!

.

.,i
•,

•.1
"l d .