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Secret Files Reveal UK Police Feared That Trekkies Could Turn On Society

Posted by samzenpus on from the live-long-and-riot dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Scotland Yard was worried that fans of shows like the X Files and Star Trek might run amok during the Millennium according to secret files. The file, called UFO New Religious Movements (NRMs) And The Millennium, reveals that anti-terrorism experts were also concerned about the brain-washing effect of Dark Skies, Roswell, Millennium and The Lawnmower Man on viewers. According to the Telegraph: "The secret briefing note was obtained from the Met under the Freedom of Information Act by Sheffield-based British X-Files expert Dr Dave Clarke while researching a new book, How UFOs Conquered the World. Dr Clarke, who teaches investigative journalism at Sheffield Hallam University, said: 'The documents show the police and security services were concerned about the export of some new religious movements concerning UFOs and aliens from the USA in the aftermath of the mass suicide by followers of the Heaven's Gate.'"

3 of 214 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Seems obvious now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I agree, I am glad the police are looking into trekkies, those people are strange and different and who knows what they are capable of! The police should investigate minority group and subculture, it's the only way to ensure our freedom. There are some very dangerous groups out there. Have you ever heard of slashot? They're like trekkies but with black hat hacker skills.. cyber criminals more dangerous than anything the police could have imagined in 1999. I hope the police investigate and round up the lot of them, better safe than sorry.

  2. well, they DID. we just don't remember. by turkeydance · · Score: 3, Informative

    that Men in Black flashy thing.

  3. Journalism 101 by itsdapead · · Score: 4, Informative

    The headline:

    Scotland Yard was worried that fans of shows like the X Files and Star Trek might run amok during the Millennium according to secret files.

    The actual story:

    'The documents show the police and security services were concerned about the export of some new religious movements concerning UFOs and aliens from the USA in the aftermath of the mass suicide by followers of the Heaven's Gate.'"

    Slight difference...

    Anyway, was this going to be the Star Trek Wars or the Star Wars Trek?

    --
    In a survey of 100 programmers, 111111 thought that duck-typing was a good idea.