Free Public Lecture Series - (In)Security, Surveillance and the State

Steve Hewitt - Informing Controversy: The Renewed Relevance of Informers to Counter-Terrorism Operations and the Controversy Surrounding Their Use

Dr Steve Hewitt is a Senior Lecturer in American and Canadian Studies at the University of Birmingham and author of Snitch: A History of the Modern Intelligence Informer (Continuum, 2010) and The British War on Terror: Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism on the Home Front since 9-11 (Continuum, 2008).

In his lecture, he will examine the use of informers in counter-terrorism intelligence. Since the September 11 attacks, there has been recognition from Western intelligence agencies and the police that technological surveillance has limitations when dealing with close-knit groups of individuals linguistically and culturally different from agency officers working on counter terrorism operations.  The use of informers, which has grown in both the US and UK in recent years, presents challenges of its own, particularly with relations between security agencies and ‘suspect communities'. This talk will examine the renewed emphasis on informers, including the historical context, reasons for their expanded use, and the implications surrounding this technique.

Progamme

• 5.30 - Arrival
• 6.30 - Lecture
• 7.30 - Drinks and networking

To book onto this event please email corporateevents@edgehill.ac.uk

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