Day 7 of phase 2 of #SpyCopsInquiry.
Quick summary of evidence from #spycop “David Hughes”, who is not being called; 5mins on documents associated with #spycop “Ian Cameron”.
Two former anti-apartheid campaigners, Jonathan Rosenhead and Christabel Gurney, due to be called.
Quick summary of evidence from #spycop “David Hughes”, who is not being called; 5mins on documents associated with #spycop “Ian Cameron”.
Two former anti-apartheid campaigners, Jonathan Rosenhead and Christabel Gurney, due to be called.
“David Hughes” infiltrated International Marxist Group, Troops Out Movement and Anti-Internment League between 1971 and 1976.
He tells #SpyCopsInquiry in his witness statement: “I think that the inquiry is missing large numbers of my reports.”
He tells #SpyCopsInquiry in his witness statement: “I think that the inquiry is missing large numbers of my reports.”
Then Met commissioner Sir Robert Mark “had concerns” about the #spycops unit, #spycop “David Hughes” reveals.
He says that this became clear when the commissioner visited a cover flat in north west London in 1972 or 1973...
He says that this became clear when the commissioner visited a cover flat in north west London in 1972 or 1973...
“David Hughes” tells #SpyCopsInquiry: “It was obvious to me that he [Sir Robert Mark] had concerns about the [#spycops unit] SDS.
“I remember him saying words to the effect that ‘You realise that you [the SDS] could cause me tremendous problems under certain circumstances.’”
“I remember him saying words to the effect that ‘You realise that you [the SDS] could cause me tremendous problems under certain circumstances.’”
“David Hughes” joined TGWU and went to big meetings of the union to see who was speaking and listen to the “drift of the discussion”.
“I probably would not have submitted a report on that, because those meetings would be covered by an ordinary Special Branch officer.” #spycops
“I probably would not have submitted a report on that, because those meetings would be covered by an ordinary Special Branch officer.” #spycops
“David Hughes” tells #SpyCopsInquiry in his witness statement: “The purpose of me attending big T&G meetings, and Special Branch monitoring them more generally, was to see if there were any members of extreme political groups involved in that trade union.”
#spycops
#spycops
Special Branch and #spycops wanted to see whether “extreme political groups… were seeking to attain a position of prominence” in trade unions, “David Hughes” tells #SpyCopsInquiry.
“Special Branch was very concerned about entryism… in organisations such as the T&G.”
“Special Branch was very concerned about entryism… in organisations such as the T&G.”
“David Hughes” tells #SpyCopsInquiry: “I would say that members of groups trusted me, although they did say quite often that we must be continuously on the Iookout for Special Branch spies.”
#spycops
#spycops
“David Hughes” to #SpyCopsInquiry: “None of the people upon whom I reported were elected politicians at the time I reported on them.
“Kate Hoey, [later an MP], used to attend IMG meetings that I reported on, but she was not an MP at the time.”
“Kate Hoey, [later an MP], used to attend IMG meetings that I reported on, but she was not an MP at the time.”
“David Hughes” tells #SpyCopsInquiry that one #spycop and several demonstrators were arrested at a rugby match at Twickenham.
They ran across the pitch in, he thinks, an anti-apartheid protest. He believes that the #spycop was convicted & fined in his cover identity.
#spycops
They ran across the pitch in, he thinks, an anti-apartheid protest. He believes that the #spycop was convicted & fined in his cover identity.
#spycops
This #spycop who, according to “David Hughes”, was arrested, convicted and fined in his cover identity at the rugby match at Twickenham used the cover name “Sean Lynch”.
#spycops
#spycops
Jonathan Rosenhead tells #SpyCopsInquiry that he was at some of the early meetings of the Stop the Seventy Tour, aimed at stopping the South African cricket team’s planned tour of the UK in 1970, but that he was more active in a sub-group, the Special Action Group.
#spycops
#spycops
Jonathan Rosenhead keeps telling #SpyCopsInquiry that various #spycops reports on STST and SAG “soup up” any talk that elements of them advocated violence.
He describes this as “spin” by #spycops, and “self justification”.
Violence was not tolerated by the groups, he says.
He describes this as “spin” by #spycops, and “self justification”.
Violence was not tolerated by the groups, he says.
Jonathan Rosenhead tells #SpyCopsInquiry that the #spycops reports suggests that his activities were being watched by three #spycops.
Was he surprised to learn of this infiltration by #spycops of these anti-apartheid groups? …
Was he surprised to learn of this infiltration by #spycops of these anti-apartheid groups? …
“I was not surprised. I was disappointed. I felt that they should have been more understanding that what we were doing was a normal and recognised part of the democratic process.”
Jonathan Rosenhead to #SpyCopsInquiry.
#spycops
Jonathan Rosenhead to #SpyCopsInquiry.
#spycops
Jonathan Rosenhead was one of several protestors, and #spycop “Michael Scott”, convicted re 1972 demonstration aimed at stopping British Lions’ rugby team leaving for a tour to South Africa.
It also featured in Ernest Rodker’s evidence yday.
#spycops
It also featured in Ernest Rodker’s evidence yday.
#spycops
https://twitter.com/MarkWatts_1/status/1387300045234401283
Jonathan Rosenhead, on the impact of #spycop “Michael Scott”, tells #SpyCopsInquiry: “The outcome, potentially contributed to by the covering up of the UCO's status, is that I have had this criminal conviction for over 45 years.”
#spycops
#spycops
Jonathan Rosenhead tells #SpyCopsInquiry: “I think that my conviction is unsafe given the undisclosed role of [a #spycop] in the demonstration and criminal proceedings.
“It is inappropriate that a false conviction should stay on record. It should be put right”
#spycops
“It is inappropriate that a false conviction should stay on record. It should be put right”
#spycops
Jonathan Rosenhead urges Sir John Mitting, #SpyCopsInquiry chairman, to consider how the “abuse of power” by police as shown in this case and by the activities of other #spycops should lead to a re-think of recent legislation to reinforce their legal basis.
“Michael Scott” went to meetings of defendants to discuss legal strategies. He was a co-defendant and #spycop. He filed reports such as this one.
They include material subject to legal professional privilege, so #SpyCopsInquiry has redacted much of them. ucpi.org.uk/wp-content/upl…
They include material subject to legal professional privilege, so #SpyCopsInquiry has redacted much of them. ucpi.org.uk/wp-content/upl…
Sir John Mitting tells Jonathan Rosenhead, as he did Ernest Rodker yesterday, that he will do his best “promptly” to decide whether to refer his conviction to the panel that will consider possible miscarriages of justice arising out of activities by #spycops.
Christabel Gurney, long-standing activist in the Anti-Apartheid Movement, tells #SpyCopsInquiry in her witness statement that disclosed material suggests that five #spycops reported on her.
She describes their use as “misguided and intensely politicised”.
She describes their use as “misguided and intensely politicised”.
One #spycop reported on a small Christmas party in 1972 at Christabel Gurney’s flat.
She says that it also raised funds for West London Anti-Apartheid Group, but adds: “I am still disturbed by the thought that a police officer entered my flat under false pretences.”
#spycops
She says that it also raised funds for West London Anti-Apartheid Group, but adds: “I am still disturbed by the thought that a police officer entered my flat under false pretences.”
#spycops
Christabel Gurney notes that #spycops reports on anti-apartheid groups went to MI5.
This, she tells #SpyCopsInquiry in her witness statement, “begs the question what happened to this 'intelligence' and these reports thereafter. Did they go on to the South African authorities?”
This, she tells #SpyCopsInquiry in her witness statement, “begs the question what happened to this 'intelligence' and these reports thereafter. Did they go on to the South African authorities?”
Christabel Gurney, like Ernest Rodker & Jonathan Rosenhead, she was convicted and fined re demo in 1972. She tells #SpyCopsInquiry that she can recall little of it.
Again, Sir John Mitting says that he will address whether to refer it as a pos miscarriage of justice “quickly”.
Again, Sir John Mitting says that he will address whether to refer it as a pos miscarriage of justice “quickly”.
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