National Public Order Intelligence Unit

The National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU) was run by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) a private company connected to United Kingdom police intelligence and was set up in 1999 to track green activists and public demonstrations. There are the links between NPOIU, ACPO, National Domestic Extremism Unit (NDEU), National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit (NETCU) and Welsh Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit (WECTU).

Because the ACPO is not a public body but rather a private limited company, NPOIU is exempt from freedom of information laws and other kinds of public accountability, even though they were funded by the Home Office and deploy police officers from regional forces.

Established in March 1999, the NPOIU incorporated the Animal Rights National Index, work that had previously been the responsibility of the various Special Branches. Initially operated as part of the Metropolitan Police Special Branch. and is now part of the Specialist Operations Business Group.

On 10 November 2009, in a question in the House of Commons, MP Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent, Independent), asked the then Secretary of State for the Home Department various questions about the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU). In response, David Hanson (Minister of State (Crime and Policing), Home Office; Delyn, Labour) responded that the main purpose of the unit is to:

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