Hamilton Police have actively surveilled Indigenous people and movements, anarchists, activists, political events and organizations – from street demos to social events and even planting tracking devices and following individuals throughout the city.
We’ve gathered some pre-written reportbacks, budget documents that provide some insight into police surveillance technology, and noted some less formal word-of-mouth information on surveillance as a way to collectivize the experiences of local organizers to offer a big-picture look at how HPS surveils us.
Remember: not everyone’s risk profile is the same and not every action requires great secrecy – but our risk profiles and actions do impact each others’. Use this information to prepare and be as safe as you can according to the required level of organizing – but don’t let it spiral you into fearful complacency or paralyzing self-doubt. For more thoughts on this, see “Possible versus Likely”.