Operation Incessantness

Operation Incessantness (campaign)

Operation Incessantness is the name of a campaign by British counterterrorism police – using the Terrorism Act 2000 – to frighten those opposing Israel's genocide in Gaza, and the West’s collusion in it, into silence.

War on independent journalism

According to Jonathan Cook:

"There is precisely no reason for police to raid Winstanley's home or seize his electronic devices. The preposterous accusation of 'encouraging terrorism' clearly relates to his online work, which is fully in the public domain.

"The British state wants to insinuate through the dawn raid and confiscation of his devices that he is somehow harbouring secret or classified information, or in illicit contact with terror groups, and that incriminating evidence will be forthcoming from searches of those devices.

"It won’t. If there were any real suspicion that Winstanley had such information, the police would have arrested him rather making a public show of a 6 am raid and search they knew beforehand would turn up nothing.

"This isn't about terrorism, except by the British state.

"It is about frightening those opposing Israel's genocide in Gaza, and the West’s collusion in it, into silence. If the British state is going after someone like Winstanley, you are supposed to conclude, they will surely soon come for me too.

"Even the name of the 'counter-terrorism' raid is performative: 'Operation Incessantness'.

"The message the state wants to send is that it will not rest till it has us all behind bars."

Fascism is here now

On 18 October 2024, Craig Murray posted on X:

"Plainly there is a systematic effort to harass and eventually imprison long-term supporters of Palestine in the UK using the Terrorism Act 2000.

"@AsaWinstanley, @Richard_palact, @richimedhurst, @swilkinsonbc and myself @craigmurrayorg are only the better known ones.

"Under Keir Starmer this has been stepped up and is plainly systematic and centrally directed.

"Meantime the state continues to actively participate in the genocide, and public cheerleaders for genocide are protected.

"Fascism is here now, imposed in support of the Israel colonial settler project."

Condemnation by NUJ

On 21 October 2024, the NUJ condemned the abuse of counter-terror legislation as harmful to media freedom.

The National Union of Journalists has condemned the rising use of counter-terrorism legislation against journalists as an intimidatory measure harmful to public interest journalism and press freedom.

The NUJ recognises the raid of journalist Asa Winstanley’s home on Thursday 17 October 2024, part of so-called ‘Operation Incessantness’, as the latest in a string of targeted approaches by police officers using anti-terror legislation and contributing to a concerning police culture where the rights of journalists and their ability to ensure the safety of sources is placed at risk.

The seizure of journalistic material and devices, the detention of journalists, and the failure of constabularies to sufficiently outline reasons for the apparent pursuit of journalists is condemned by the union, and has rightly raised alarm among members of the public for its undermining impact on journalism and media freedom.

Last month, the NUJ and International Federation of Journalists expressed grave concern over the chilling effect of Richard Medhurst’s detention and wrote to Matt Jukes, UK Head of Counter Terrorism Policing with concerns.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ General Secretary, said:

"Abuse and mis-use of counter-terror legislation has serious ramifications for public confidence in the police whilst directly threatening the safety of journalists. The UK government cannot on one hand state its commitment to valuing media freedom whilst endorsing the targeting of journalists through raids and seizures of journalistic material in this manner.

"All use of terrorism legislation must be proportionate or risks grave harm to media freedom. We seek further detail of Operation Incessantness with clarity on considered safeguards to prevent the unlawful investigations of journalists. Journalistic integrity must be maintained – any misuse of UK anti-terror legislation poses a significant risk to journalists and journalism and brings shame on the world stage as one where public interest journalism and a diverse media is stymied."

On 22 October 2024, Asa Winstanley posted on X:

“NUJ recognises the raid of journalist Asa Winstanley’s home on Thursday 17 October 2024, part of so-called ‘Operation Incessantness’, as the latest in a string of targeted approaches by police officers using anti-terror legislation” against journalists.

 

Related Documents

Title	Type	Publication date	Author(s)	Description
Document:Police escalate the British state's war on independent journalism	blog post	17 October 2024	Jonathan Cook	"This isn't about terrorism, except by the British state. Even the name of the 'counter-terrorism' raid is performative: 'Operation Incessantness'. The message the state wants to send is that it will not rest till it has us all behind bars."
Document:UK police raid home, seize devices of EI’s Asa Winstanley	Article	17 October 2024	Ali Abunimah	"On 17 October 2024, British counterterrorism police raided the home and seized several electronic devices belonging to The Electronic Intifada’s associate editor Asa Winstanley. The letter handed to Winstanley by police refers to the raid on his home as being part of 'Operation Incessantness', perhaps indicative of a broad and ongoing crackdown against critics of Israel’s British-backed crimes."

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