Thread by @copscampaign

It's a day of police lawyers' statements at the #SpyCopsInquiry. 'It wasbad but lessons have been learned, it's different now, move on,' paraphrased over & over. We're live-tweeting a thread for each speaker. Next is Gerry Boyle QC representing the National Police Chiefs’ Council

Boyle: NPCC coordinates 43 police forces of England & Wales, doing what the Association of Chief Police Officers did until 2015. Doesn't act for individual officers. Invovled in #SpyCopsInquiry because it helps formulate policy & practice for #SpyCops

Less than 2 minutes in and Boyle has already mentioned terrorism.

NPCC is involved in the redaction of docs for the #SpyCopsInquiry, & done risk assessments for ~SpyCops to see if they need anonymity at the Inquiry. Undercover is a vital toll against yadayada, 'recognises' #SpyCops failings that can damage public confidence in police

Doyle: need recognition of significant contribution of #SpyCops in preventing serious criminality. NPCC is notional guardian of the tactic, and oversaw the NPOIU #SpyCops unit

Doyle: NPCC took over from ACPO which had oversight of crossborder policing, undertake major investigation, & oversaw NPOIU from about 2006 until it was subsumed into Counter Terrorism Command in 2011

Doyle: Unlike the SDS #SpyCops, the NPOIU had officers seconded from across the country. Many had experience of major investigations & usually returned to original constabulary. NPOIU more likely to have dealt with terrorism & organised crime than SDS, so they need anonymity

Doyle: NPCC has been liaison between #SpyCopsInquiry & all English & Welsh forces except the Met. NPCC sorted the secure methods of the Inquiry's disclosure exercise.

NPCC has these functions: coordination of national operations; command of counter terrorist policing; coordination of police response to national emergencies; implementing standards & policy as set by College of Policing & government

Doyle: Unlike ACPO, NPCC is a collective rather than a limited company. It's National Undercover Working Group deals with #SpyCops under its serious crime portfolio. It's responded to HM Inspectorate of Constabulary recommendations on undercover policing

Doyle: Undercover policing is important, counters serious organised crime, paedophilia & terrorist atrocities. It has prevented significant criminality. [Examples of paedophile gang, terrorism & other stuff that's got nothing to do with #SpyCops & insults victims by association]

Doyle: there's tension between undercover tactic & collateral effects, so we have guidance & policy [as you did when #SpyCops were committing their outrages against all the rules; power without accountability leads to abuse]

Doyle is now labouriously listing regulations that supposedly constrain #SpyCops. 'Officers are professional & have great courage, protect our communities' etc

Doyle: Human Rights Act brought recognition of the intrusion of #SpyCops on lives of those who are 'collateral intrusion' [again, officers like Rod Richardson & Mark Kennedy were after this, deeply integrating into families]

Doyle: Since 2000 inspections under Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act has ensured compliance with rules [NO IT HASN'T YOU UTTER LIAR]

Doyle: The NPCC have an action plan that ensures all the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary recommendations of 2014 are put into practice. Undercover work has 'not been without controversy' but it's so much better now. NPCC wants to assist Inquiry all it can

Christ, if you took a shot every time Doyle said 'serious organised crime' you wouldn't be able to see this screen by now.