Introduction

The distinction between political prisoners and ordinary criminals has historically been contested, particularly by those subject to the labels as the statements show. Consider how in the EU Europol treats crimes committed by animal rights activists as terrorism-related offences, or in the UK how non-violent political expression is regulated and policed by public sector institutions ranging from primary school teachers to doctors and social workers. Political violence was accordingly reframed as ordinary crime, and corresponding changes were made in terms of criminal procedure to ensure the most expedient process ‘legally’ possible in incarcerating these ‘criminals’. Criminalisation embodies a process much more complex than its instrumental design, because while a state may criminalise certain activities, its impact will depend on its enforcement and how the criminalised perceive the process. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.