- Source: Undercover Policing Inquiry
The Undercover Policing Inquiry is an independent statutory inquiry into undercover policing in England and Wales. It was announced by Theresa May, the then Home Secretary, on 6 March 2014, and its terms of reference were published on 16 July 2015. The Inquiry has been chaired by Sir John Mitting since July 2017, following the resignation due to ill-health of Sir Christopher Pitchford.
Background
Theresa May commissioned the Undercover Policing Inquiry in 2015, in response to a string of allegations about the activities of undercover units, including the disclosure that police had spied on campaigners fighting for justice for Stephen Lawrence.
In 2012 Theresa May had commissioned Mark Ellison KC to review allegations of corruption relating to the initial police investigation of the 1993 murder of Lawrence. The report from the Ellison review, presented to Parliament on 6 March 2014, found a number of serious concerns relating to undercover policing practices. Ellison also highlighted a possible link between an allegedly corrupt police officer involved in the Lawrence campaign, and the 1987 murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan.
Remit
The Inquiry is investigating undercover police operations conducted by English and Welsh police forces in England and Wales since 1968. It primarily examines the conduct of two now disbanded units: the Metropolitan Police's Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) and the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU). It is looking at allegations that undercover officers infiltrated and disrupted social justice groups and movements, deceived women into intimate relationships, stole the names of dead children to create fake identities, and concealed evidence in court cases.
Evidence and Reports
As of April 2018 the inquiry has confirmed that undercover police had infiltrated the following groups and movements:
Anarchist groups, Animal Liberation Front, Anti-Apartheid Movement, Anti-Fascist Action, Big Flame, Black Power movement, Brixton Hunt Saboteurs, Anglia Ruskin Churchill Society (Young Conservatives), Colin Roach Centre, Dambusters Mobilising Committee, Dissent!, Earth First!, Essex Hunt Saboteurs, Friends of Freedom Press Ltd, Globalise Resistance, Independent Labour Party, Independent Working Class Association, International Marxist Group, International Socialists, Irish National Liberation Solidarity Front, London Animal Action, London Animal Rights Coalition, London Boots Action Group, London Greenpeace, Militant, No Platform, Antifa, Operation Omega, Reclaim the Streets, Red Action, Republican Forum, Revolutionary Socialist Students Federation, Socialist Party (England and Wales), Socialist Workers Party, South London Animal Movement (SLAM), Tri-Continental, Troops Out Movement, Vietnam Solidarity Campaign, West London Hunt Saboteurs, Workers Revolutionary Party, Young Haganah, Young Liberals, Youth against Racism in Europe.
The Undercover Research Group has published an extensive list of known spycops and the groups they spied upon.
Tranche 1, Phase Hearings of the inquiry took place in November 2020 and took evidence about the SDS between 1968-1972 from non-state witnesses and undercover police officers. The inquiry started hearing evidence on 2 November 2020, with seven days of opening statements then seven days of evidence hearings. The hearings were conducted remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The inquiry was to focus on the deployment of about 140 undercover police officers to spy on over 1,000 political groups over more than 40 years. Tranch1, Phase 2 Hearings in April and May 2021 heard evidence about SDS activities between 1970-1979. In May 2022, Tranche ,1 Phase 3, the inquiry mainly heard evidence from SDS police managers over the period 1968-1982.
The Inquiry published its interim report for Tranche One on 29 June 2023.
The expected commencement of Tranche Two hearings is Spring 2024.
Criticism of the Inquiry
Criticisms levelled against the Inquiry have included concerns about long delays in its work (the Guardian said: "The inquiry has performed to perfection its dual function of creating the illusion of a political response, while firmly kicking the issue into the long grass"), the perceived suitability of Sir John Mitting as chair, and his decisions to allow many undercover officers giving evidence to the Inquiry to remain anonymous.
In March 2018 campaigners and their legal teams walked out of an Inquiry hearing, calling for Mitting to stand down or appoint a full panel.
A number of the CPs (Core Participants) involved in the inquiry are campaigning together. They are the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance (COPS) and Police Spies Out of Lives.