Thread by @policemonitor

JACK’S STORY: today we want to tell you all how a 14-year-old Derbyshire boy was labelled a #DomesticExtremist because he said in class – in a lesson on the US civil rights movement – that he is an anti-fascist and how his family was then hounded by counter-terrorism police

The evening after the class, the school told Jack’s parents it had decided to refer him to #Prevent because of the risk of “radicalisation towards terrorism”. It refused to say any more, or provide any documents for “safeguarding reasons”.

Fortunately, the case was quickly closed: there never was any risk. Common sense seemed to have prevailed. But then the parents discovered the school had falsely claimed Jack and his father had knowledge of anti-fascist “terrorist training camps and/or meetings”. Yes, really

When challenged the school apologised. But this didn’t deter West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit officers from continually texting, emailing and phoning Jack’s mother, even after she told them the school had provided incorrect information and even after they were asked to stop.

Jack’s mother said she felt “harassed and as if the police were trying to divide our family.” At one point, the family debated whether Jack’s father should move out until the police harassment stopped, but decided this would have a greater negative impact on Jack’s well-being

The family are Labour supporters but have told Netpol of the chilling effect this experience has had on their political activism, which stopped a year ago. They are too scared of the consequences for Jack’s welfare and for their future employment.

They have emphasised again and again that there was no reason for counter-terrorism police to get involved in their son’s life. He, meanwhile, no longer has any trust in the teachers who reported him.

Read Jacks full story here. netpol.org/domestic-extre…