Second phase of #SpyCopsInquiry hearings, covering 1972 to 1982, due to begin this morning at 10am.
Eight former #spycops set to testify in this phase.
Meanwhile, third phase of hearings, when #spycops managers are due to be called, DELAYED from October to first half of 2022.
Eight former #spycops set to testify in this phase.
Meanwhile, third phase of hearings, when #spycops managers are due to be called, DELAYED from October to first half of 2022.
David Barr, counsel to #SpyCopsInquiry, says that evidence to be heard in this phase of hearings will require inquiry chairman to consider whether there are grounds to believe that activities of #spycops led to specific miscarriages of justice.
Sir John Mitting, #SpyCopsInquiry chairman, plans to consider whether to make any referral of possible miscarriages of justice to a special panel to make determinations after this phase of hearings, David Barr says.
Theresa May in 2015 set up this miscarriages of justice panel alongside #SpyCopsInquiry.
Made up of senior members of CPS and police, it will review cases where inquiry believes miscarriages of justice may have taken place because of a #spycops op or its non disclosure.
Made up of senior members of CPS and police, it will review cases where inquiry believes miscarriages of justice may have taken place because of a #spycops op or its non disclosure.
David Barr says that this phase of #SpyCopsInquiry will hear evidence of at least five #spycops who had sexual relationships with at least 12 spying targets.
Some of these #spycops who had sexual relations with targets will be testifying behind closed doors to protect their identities, David Barr tells #SpyCopsInquiry hearing.
David Barr to #SpyCopsInquiry: “It can safely be said that from the mid-1970’s onwards, sexual contact between SDS officers [#spycops] in their undercover identities and members of the public was not uncommon.”
David Barr: #spycop Richard Clark became a branch secretary at Troops Out Movement, having helped to set up the branch.
Clark then became London organiser, then its national organiser.
Clark then became London organiser, then its national organiser.
David Barr says that hearings for Tranche 2 of #SpyCopsInquiry will NOT be held next year, but will be delayed because of pandemic.
“The impact on our timetable is now more serious than we anticipated last November,” he says.
“The impact on our timetable is now more serious than we anticipated last November,” he says.
David Barr’s written opening statement clarifies that #spycop Richard Clark is now dead and had used the cover name “Rick Gibson” when targetting Troops Out Movement.
He had set up south-east London branch before ultimately becoming London organiser, then national organiser.
He had set up south-east London branch before ultimately becoming London organiser, then national organiser.
Friends of the Earth was among many target groups of #spycops, according to David Barr’s written opening statement.
Friends of the Earth swas infiltrated in around 1980 and 1981 because of its anti-nuclear campaigning.
Friends of the Earth swas infiltrated in around 1980 and 1981 because of its anti-nuclear campaigning.
This phase of #SpyCopsInquiry hearings covers 1973 (not 1972 as I said earlier) to 1982.
Met's lawyer says in opening statement that #spycops played an important role by feeding info to Security Service (MI5) to help in its counter-subversion work.
Met's lawyer says in opening statement that #spycops played an important role by feeding info to Security Service (MI5) to help in its counter-subversion work.
MI5 “was able to exert some influence over the placement of undercover officers,” Met's barrister, Peter Skelton tells #SpyCopsInquiry.
So MI5 helped Met decide which groups the #spycops should infiltrate.
So MI5 helped Met decide which groups the #spycops should infiltrate.
Peter Skelton says that #spycop Michael Scott was one of several people convicted in 1972 of “obstruction of the highway and obstructing police”.
Sir John Mitting says that he will consider, following this phase of hearings, whether a miscarriage of justice arose in this case.
Sir John Mitting says that he will consider, following this phase of hearings, whether a miscarriage of justice arose in this case.
A #spycop attended the funeral of Blair Peach, Peter Skelton confirms to #SpyCopsInquiry .
The inquiry has obtained evidence from this #spycop, he adds.
Blair Peach died after a police officer struck him on the head during an anti-Nazi demonstration in Southall in 1979.
The inquiry has obtained evidence from this #spycop, he adds.
Blair Peach died after a police officer struck him on the head during an anti-Nazi demonstration in Southall in 1979.
Oliver Sanders, lawyer for 116 #spycops, complains about summaries that are due to be read out in hearings of his clients' statements.
The #spycops have not checked these summaries, have not agreed them and do not accept them.
The #spycops have not checked these summaries, have not agreed them and do not accept them.
Inquiry is excluding key material re #spycops, says Oliver Sanders.
“Information about MI5 interest in or coverage of particular groups and individuals (by human and technical sources) has been withheld... creating a misleading impression of what the state as a whole was doing.”
“Information about MI5 interest in or coverage of particular groups and individuals (by human and technical sources) has been withheld... creating a misleading impression of what the state as a whole was doing.”
“Witness Z”, MI5's anonymous witness, in statement to #SpyCopsInquiry: Security Service “stopped investigating subversion in 1996.”
But MI5 “started investigating right-wing, left-wing, anarchist, and single-issue extremism in 2020," Witness Z adds.
But MI5 “started investigating right-wing, left-wing, anarchist, and single-issue extremism in 2020," Witness Z adds.
“Witness Z”: MI5 told Met Special Branch in 1972 that it needed “long-term agent penetration of subversive groups active in the unions."
But, says Witness Z, Met's then commissioner, Sir Robert Mark, limited Special Branch's role to likely trouble with law and order.
But, says Witness Z, Met's then commissioner, Sir Robert Mark, limited Special Branch's role to likely trouble with law and order.
“Witness Z” to #SpyCopsInquiry: “The Security Service did not consider [in 1972] that subversive organisations posed a particularly high-priority threat.“
“The pressure to investigate these organisations often came from the prime minister and Whitehall.”
“The pressure to investigate these organisations often came from the prime minister and Whitehall.”
MI5 and Met Special Branch had a “close working relationship” for many years, “Witness Z” tells #SpyCopsInquiry in written statement.
But MI5 had a “closer relationship“ with provincial Special Branches “in general", he says. They “managed their agents in conjunction with“ MI5.
But MI5 had a “closer relationship“ with provincial Special Branches “in general", he says. They “managed their agents in conjunction with“ MI5.
Senior Special Branch officer told MI5 in 1975 that #spycops unit SDS was “one of the [Met Special Branch’s] most closely protected secrets“, says “Witness Z” to #SpyCopsInquiry.
So, what might be its other most closely protected secrets?
So, what might be its other most closely protected secrets?
“Witness Z”: “Security Service’s interest in London universities and polytechnics [as of 1968] was confined to left-wing radical and active student unions, some of which had members who were Trotskyist agitators.”
(For some reason, there is no inquiry into MI5’s activities.)
(For some reason, there is no inquiry into MI5’s activities.)
“Witness Z” to #SpyCopsInquiry: “The Security Service did provide [#spycops unit] with occasional and limited assistance with the development of... cover identities.”
“Assistance was occasional, intermittent and depended on the nature of the assistance sought.”
“Assistance was occasional, intermittent and depended on the nature of the assistance sought.”
Round-up of today at #SpyCopsInquiry: Sex between officers from secret squad and members of the public “not uncommon“.
#Spycops joked about intimate relationships in front of managers. standard.co.uk/news/uk/metrop…
#Spycops joked about intimate relationships in front of managers. standard.co.uk/news/uk/metrop…
One #spycop recalls that #spycops unit SDS received messages from 10 Downing Street “with respect to the success of the SDS in combatting public disorder,“ according to gist of his statement prepared by #SpyCopsInquiry lawyers.
MI5 note on MI5-Met meeting in 1972 disclosed to #SpyCopsInquiry: “We were under increasing pressure from Whitehall... for more and more detailed information about subversive activities in industrial disputes and the degree of subversive influence in trades unions...“
“We needed to increase our agent coverage of industrial affairs, particularly in the Metropolitan area,“ continues MI5 officer's memo, disclosed to #SpyCopsInquiry.
He was writing a file note on his meeting with senior Met officers to seek more help from Special Branch in 1972.
He was writing a file note on his meeting with senior Met officers to seek more help from Special Branch in 1972.
MI5 officer continued in file note: “What we needed was long-term agent penetration of subversive groups active in the unions rather than casual informant sources.
“We had some success with provincial forces in this field.“
“We had some success with provincial forces in this field.“
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