A new intelligence unit within the UK’s National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC) will begin monitoring social media for early signs of anti-migrant unrest, as authorities respond to renewed demonstrations across parts of England. The move follows concerns of a repeat of last summer’s violent outbreaks that were triggered by misinformation and civil disorder, as reported by The Guardian.
The policing minister, Diana Johnson, informed Members of Parliament on Sunday that the Home Office is considering the formation of a dedicated “national internet intelligence investigations team.” This team will be embedded within the NPoCC and tasked with identifying potential threats by analysing online activity, helping local forces respond more quickly to emerging risks.
As reported by The Guardian, “This team will provide a national capability to monitor social media intelligence and advise on its use to inform local operational decision-making,” Johnson wrote. “It will be a dedicated function at a national level for exploiting internet intelligence to help local forces manage public safety threats and risks.”
The announcement comes after fresh protests were reported in Leeds, Norwich, and Nottinghamshire this past weekend. Demonstrations intensified following violent scenes outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Epping, Essex, a pattern reminiscent of last July’s riots that began in Southport.
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Last summer’s unrest was sparked after the murder of three young girls: Bebe King (6), Alice da Silva Aguiar (9), and Elsie Dot Stancombe (7) at a holiday club in Southport. The attacker, Axel Rudakubana, was initially misidentified online, with rumours falsely claiming he was a newly arrived asylum seeker. Though authorities later clarified that Rudakubana was born in Cardiff, protests escalated rapidly, leading to attacks on community centres and places of worship, including a mosque in Southport.
Police struggled to manage the scale and speed of the unrest, which spread to London, Sunderland, Rotherham, Middlesbrough, Belfast and other cities. A report by the police inspectorate earlier this year criticised the existing intelligence approach as “disjointed and fragmented,” calling for urgent reform.
According to the report, the Home Office stated that the new team would not infringe on free speech or monitor general anti-migrant sentiment online. “These claims are completely untrue,” a spokesperson said. “This new capability is not about monitoring what people say on their social media feeds – it is about equipping our police forces to respond more rapidly to the needs of the communities they serve.”
Despite reassurances, the proposal has drawn criticism. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, said: “This is the beginning of the state controlling free speech. It is sinister, dangerous and must be fought.”
The police unit's focus will be on detecting misinformation, tracking online mobilisation, and supporting local policing decisions during volatile events. According to one intelligence officer, “We need to keep an eye on this [serious disorder] all the time. When we stop, we get bitten.”
The government will assess future funding needs for the intelligence team beyond the 2025–26 period.
The policing minister, Diana Johnson, informed Members of Parliament on Sunday that the Home Office is considering the formation of a dedicated “national internet intelligence investigations team.” This team will be embedded within the NPoCC and tasked with identifying potential threats by analysing online activity, helping local forces respond more quickly to emerging risks.
As reported by The Guardian, “This team will provide a national capability to monitor social media intelligence and advise on its use to inform local operational decision-making,” Johnson wrote. “It will be a dedicated function at a national level for exploiting internet intelligence to help local forces manage public safety threats and risks.”
The announcement comes after fresh protests were reported in Leeds, Norwich, and Nottinghamshire this past weekend. Demonstrations intensified following violent scenes outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Epping, Essex, a pattern reminiscent of last July’s riots that began in Southport.
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)
Last summer’s unrest was sparked after the murder of three young girls: Bebe King (6), Alice da Silva Aguiar (9), and Elsie Dot Stancombe (7) at a holiday club in Southport. The attacker, Axel Rudakubana, was initially misidentified online, with rumours falsely claiming he was a newly arrived asylum seeker. Though authorities later clarified that Rudakubana was born in Cardiff, protests escalated rapidly, leading to attacks on community centres and places of worship, including a mosque in Southport.
Police struggled to manage the scale and speed of the unrest, which spread to London, Sunderland, Rotherham, Middlesbrough, Belfast and other cities. A report by the police inspectorate earlier this year criticised the existing intelligence approach as “disjointed and fragmented,” calling for urgent reform.
According to the report, the Home Office stated that the new team would not infringe on free speech or monitor general anti-migrant sentiment online. “These claims are completely untrue,” a spokesperson said. “This new capability is not about monitoring what people say on their social media feeds – it is about equipping our police forces to respond more rapidly to the needs of the communities they serve.”
Despite reassurances, the proposal has drawn criticism. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, said: “This is the beginning of the state controlling free speech. It is sinister, dangerous and must be fought.”
The police unit's focus will be on detecting misinformation, tracking online mobilisation, and supporting local policing decisions during volatile events. According to one intelligence officer, “We need to keep an eye on this [serious disorder] all the time. When we stop, we get bitten.”
The government will assess future funding needs for the intelligence team beyond the 2025–26 period.
