Security and Policing 2022 is an annual arms fair organised by the Home Office.
This secretive event is attended by arms companies, surveillance companies, police, prison and border agencies rubbing shoulders with ministers and senior civil servants. Journalists and other observers are barred from attending.
The fair is at the heart of the Hostile Environment and state repression. At the same time as closing down routes to safety for people on the move, the Home Office is promoting the sale of weapons and technology to police our borders – and making crossing them ever more deadly. These borders kill – just 3 months ago, 27 people died on our shores, trying to reach safety here.
The products on display are also used to surveil and control oppressed communities, and track dissidents and activists around the world.
In 2020, Israeli spy company NSO Group was invited to attend. NSO Group’s Pegasus technology, developed through research and practice that sustains Israel’s repression of the Palestinian people, was subsequently found to be facilitating spying on Saudi dissidents, politicians, and human rights defenders around the world, including in the UK.
Yet, this is just the tip of the iceberg. This year, a host of companies developing technologies used to surveil and oppress migrants, refugees, and other marginalised communities will attend the fair.
Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and Campaign Against Arms Trade are holding a vigil outside the Home Office in London.
On March 15th at 6pm, outside 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF they will be saying No to Arms Fairs, and Yes to Migrants and Refugees.
Join them to help put an end to this dreadful event and to tell the UK Government and Home Office to stop the arms fair and respect human rights.