Redwatch
Type of site | Far-right politics, anti-communism |
---|---|
Available in | English |
Founded | March 1992 (in print) Early 2000s (website) |
Dissolved | Summer 2019 |
Predecessor(s) | Redwatch (print magazine) |
Headquarters | |
Owner | Simon Sheppard |
URL | redwatch.org (defunct) redwatch.org.uk (defunct) redwatch.net (defunct) redwatch.co.uk (defunct) |
Commercial | No |
Registration | None |
Current status | Defunct |
Redwatch was a British website associated with members of the far-right
The information gathered by Redwatch was indexed by cities or regions. Many of the people listed were members of the
History
A now-defunct printed magazine Redwatch was first published by the neo-Nazi paramilitary group Combat 18 in March 1992,[2] when its slogan was "oderint dum metuant": "let them hate as long as they fear"[3] (a quotation from Caligula).
The website was hosted by
In January 2004, questions concerning the legality of the Redwatch website were raised in the House of Lords. The Home Office stated that listing public information online is not a crime.[7]
The website has been heavily criticised by the Trades Union Congress and many affiliated unions. Following the TUC's annual Congress in September 2004, where an anti-Redwatch resolution was passed, the TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber wrote to Home Secretary David Blunkett, requesting a meeting to discuss the issue. Further discussions and correspondence with government members ensued, and in March 2005, a meeting took place with Home Secretary Charles Clarke. The TUC have promised to provide the Home Secretary with examples of experiences that trade unionists and other left-wing campaigners have had as a result of having their details published on Redwatch, whilst the Home Secretary promised to hold discussions with the police about what could be done to stop the activities of the website.
The website temporarily became unavailable around 6 December 2008, with all of its various URLs leading directly to error or Internet service provider pages. It returned later that month. On 2 March 2013 the anti-fascist Hope not Hate claimed that the police had arrested Kevin Watmough from Redwatch and confiscated his computers for investigation.
Redwatch justified its content as a reaction to leftist websites and magazines who display similar content: "Photographs and information about the reds who attempt to harass and assault British Nationalists and their families. The red scum target us, Redwatch plays them at their own game". Justifications provided by the website include an email circulated in August 2001 by the Anti-Nazi League, containing the home addresses of Nick Griffin (leader of the British National Party) and his mother, who was involved in the organisation of a BNP festival.[8]
The website went offline in the summer of 2019.
Association with violence
There have been many reports to the police of people receiving death threats after their details have appeared on the Redwatch website. These have included
According to
Due to its association with violence, BNP leader
Merseyside
In May 2006, a Polish political activist was attacked and stabbed, requiring surgery. He stated that he believed the attack was linked to his recent listing on the Polish version of the website.[
Websites outside Britain
The British website links to Redwatch sites in Poland, Germany, the Netherlands and New Zealand. As of January 2007, the links provided for New Zealand, Germany, and the Netherlands led to a
In 2010, three men were sentenced to short jail terms (up to one and a half years), for their role in editing the Polish Redwatch site.[14]
See also
References
- ^ Townsend, Mark (18 June 2016). "Why has the far right made West Yorkshire a home?". The Guardian.
- ISBN 1903854008.
- ^ Searchlight, April 1993
- ^ "Details of the Hull BNP branch's activity". Heretical.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
- ^ Searchlight Magazine, November 2003. Cited at Redwatch.
- ^ Vellacott, James. "Sunday Mirror article about Sheppard's house being raided". Sundaymirror.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
- ^ Matthew Taylor, Web of hate, The Guardian, 4 October 2006. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
- ^ "Article based on the ANL press release". Indymedia.org.uk. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
- ^ Taylor, Matthew (2004-01-17). "The Guardian". London. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
- ^ "appall for solidarity and a warning - Indymedia Ireland". Indymedia.ie. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
- The Secret Agent. BBC Documentary. First aired 15 July 2004.
- ^ "Indymedia article about harassment". Indymedia.org.uk. 2003-11-21. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
- ^ "::: REDWATCH - POLSKA :::". www.redwatch.info. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
- ^ "Radio Poland :: News from Poland". Thenews.pl. Retrieved 12 December 2017.