I think the fundamental difference UK versus USA, is that it is very hard to inflame passions in the UK about abstractions. Concrete examples of abuse are neede

I think the fundamental difference UK versus USA, is that it is very hard to inflame passions in the UK about abstractions. Concrete examples of abuse are needed to arouse our ire, and we only get angry at the actual abuse, not the potential for it. So for example, we get more annoyed about police undercover spies having sex under false pretences, than about the fact that there were police undercover spies in peaceful protest groups (despite the fact that is clearly egregious overkill and bad for democracy).