Thread by @copscampaign

Today, the #SpycopsInquiry is due to hear from HN354, who used the name 'Vince Miller' to infiltrate the Socialist Workers Party from 1976-1979.
Read more about him at powerbase.info/index.php/Vinc…
@UndercoverNet
#SpyCops
(1)

@UndercoverNet The Inquiry will be streaming a moving transcript on Youtube: (in the morning)

(2)

@UndercoverNet The documents being referred to should be uploaded so you can read them for yourself:
ucpi.org.uk/hearing/eviden…

@UndercoverNet If you're based in England or Wales, and would like to hear an audio-stream featuring the officer's voice, you'll need to register on the @ucpinquiry website for access via a Zoom webinar.

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry There is a ten-minute delay on all of these options – and on our tweeting/ reporting.

In the meantime, we can tell you a little about today's one and only witness: 'Vince the Vampire'.

(5)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry During his deployment, he deceived 'Madeleine' (a member of the Walthamstow branch of the SWP) into a sexual relationship. We heard her evidence yesterday – read our report of the day at campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/2021/05/10/ucp…

(6)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry Read her written statement: ucpi.org.uk/publications/f…

(7)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry 'Vince' has admitted to the Inquiry that he had at least four 'fleeting sexual encounters' while using his fake identity. He described these as 'one night stands' even though it is clear that, in Madeleine's case at least, this was not the case.

(8)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry Mitting already described this deployment as 'unremarkable', despite the evidence of sexual relationships with these women. 'Vince Miller' was granted real name anonymity. All we know about him is that he is now in his 60s, and retired, having married and had a family.

(9)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry Despite earlier promises by the Chair, Sir John Mitting, to share the #spycops real names with the women deceived in this way, Madeleine has still not been told what HN354's real name is.
(10)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry His real name anonymity is being revoked – Mitting having changed his mind about this - and the @ucpinquiry has now said that this name will be published, at some unknown point.
We ask why this hasn't been done already.

(11)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry As Madeleine herself has said:
“The Chair has now decided to revoke the anonymity order granted to HN354 and release his real name....

(12)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry “...I would like to thank the Chair for his decision – it is absolutely the right thing to do, but for the wrong reason as HN354 shouldn't have had his identity protected in the first place..."

(13)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry "...HN354 lost the right to privacy due to his abusive acts and no legitimate reasons have been given for withholding his real name”.
(14)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry Madeleine was made a non State core participant in this Inquiry last year. She has already described the insensitive way in which the Inquiry broke the news to her, in her opening statement on 22nd April:
ucpi.org.uk/publications/o…
(15)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry She was door-stepped on a Saturday morning by a man she didn't know (which turned out to be someone from this Inquiry) delivering her a letter about 'Vince Miller'.
(16)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry This was the first time she found out that her old boyfriend/ comrade had in fact been an undercover #spycops officer, sent to spy on her and her friends.

(17)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry She was shown files and documents from those years, but told that she couldn't discuss the contents with anyone else, at all, not even her own husband, due to the restriction orders & generally-crazily-high levels of secrecy surrounding this so-called 'public' Inquiry.
(18)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry After this opening statement had been read out, Mitting hastened onto the screen to tell Madeleine that of course the Inquiry could arrange for these restrictions to be varied, to allow her to talk about these traumatic events with her husband.

(19)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry He could have done this a year ago, and lessened the impact on her (and her husband's) mental health.

(20)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry And he could, if he chose to, make the same kind of arrangement for other victims of the #spycops abuses.
(21)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry Other non State core participants -and even the lawyers representing them- have not been given permission to share the contents of these secret files with other people, not even in cases where those other people are referred to by name.
(22)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry You can read more about 'HN354' – aka 'Vince Miller' on pages 206-215
of the Counsel to the Inquiry's opening statement: ucpi.org.uk/wp-content/upl…

(23)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry According to 'Miller', he was invited to join the unit by then Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Geoffrey Craft. He was told that he could leave at any time, but it would be a four year job (in the end, it lasted for three).
(24)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry At the time he wasn't married, but was in a long-term relationship. This ended approximately 12 months after his deployment as one of the #spycops

(25)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry Like many of the other officers we have heard from, he started out in the SDS back office at New Scotland Yard.

(26)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry There was no formal training; they performed admin tasks, read reports, answered the phones and attended the regular (twice a week) meetings at the safe-houses with the #spycops who were already out in the 'field'.
(27)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry He says he didn't see any 'trade-craft' folder, or the Briefing on informants taking part in crime. He wasn't given any instructions about avoiding relationships. He says things were left to his own judgement. They 'learnt on the job'.
(28)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry He was instructed to steal the identity of a child who had died, hence 'Vincent Miller'. There was no manual for this.

He says he developed his 'legend' as he went along, and told people that both his parents had died.
(29)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry DCI Craft then tasked him with first observing, and then infiltrating, an 'active subversive group that were of interest to Special Branch' in Walthamstow, an area of London where no other #spycops were operating.
(30)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry HN354 says that he wasn't specifically tasked with spying on the Socialist Workers Party (SWP), but in fact, did focus almost entirely on them throughout his 3 years undercover.
(31)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry He considered them to a 'subversive' group, and will probably be asked more about his definition of this word later on today.
(32)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry He joined the SDS in late 1976, and we know that he attended a meeting of the Walthamstow SWP at the Rose & Crown pub in January 1977 (the first report we have from him)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry According to the Inquiry, He became Treasurer of the branch, before becoming Treasurer, and a member of the 'Social Committee', of the SWP's 'Outer East London District'.
(34)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry He has said that this role was "fantastic for information and intelligence gathering”, giving him access to lists of party members, and their personal details.
(35)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry He draws a distinction between intelligence, which he defines as “any material that is of operational value to the police for example how many people were to attend a demonstration”
- and information: “facts provided or learned about something or someone”
(36)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry He says he would report “the intelligence and information that I thought was of use”.

He knew this was being forwarded to the security services.

(37)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry You can now read HN354's first witness statement – it's at ucpi.org.uk/publications/f…
and supplemented by this fuller version: ucpi.org.uk/publications/s…
(38)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry He tells us:
that he first became aware of the existence of the 'Hairies' – the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) – when he saw an officer sporting a beard and long hair at a Special Branch social event.
(39)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry NB: We were previously told that the #spycops wouldn't have gone near the Branch's normal offices or events during their deployments – instead they used a series of secretive safe-houses.
(40)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry He remembers that taking part in actions like fly-posting were permitted, but the #spycops were told not to take a knife to any demo, and not to take part in carrying banners with heavy poles, in case these were treated as ‘offensive weapons' by uniformed police.
(41)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry If he was arrested while undercover, he understood that he should call the SDS office as soon as he was able to. There was no further guidance about this.
(42)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry There was also no training about issues like gender and/or race equality, either in the @metpolice more widely or within the SDS. No surprises there.
(43)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He had a driving licence in his false identity, he had a 'duff flat' (cover accommodation) and a fake 'job'.
(44)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He decided on his cover story: that he had just come out of a very serious/ committed relationship, that had gone 'toxic', and had walked out, leaving all his possessions behind...

(45)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice “This fitted in with my cover flat being sparsely decorated. I was never asked about what area I came from or anything like that.”
(46)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice His cover employment: he says that he told people he was in the business of of installing portable cabins and/ or suspended ceilings, and made sure to carry the appropriate tools around in his van.
(47)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He never actually did this job. But had an arrangement that any telephone messages left at his cover employers' would be relayed to him.
(48)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice I lived in Forest Road in Walthamstow throughout my deployment. It was perfect and so I did not see a need to change it. My room was located above a motorcycle repair shop. It was a bedsit with a shared bathroom with another bedsit.”
(49)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Weirdly, he says he never met the other person who used this shared bathroom.
He says he paid in cash for this room, and got it via a lettings agency.

(50)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice HN354 sworn in by David Barr, Counsel to the Inquiry
Barr asked him a few questions about his written witness statement.

(51)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Was he interviewed before joining the #spycops unit?
He says that “one of the first questions” was about his marital status.
He went on to explain that he was the first unmarried #spycop to be deployed – he thought this was because having a wife meant some form of support
(52)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice There was a certain number of officers in the field at one time, so he worked in the back office until there was a 'vacancy'.
He would take calls from undercovers, and pass messages on.
(53)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He said that reading others' reports provided him with ;snapshots” of information, and the kind of content/ style expected of #spycops reports.

He explained that they used reference numbers etc to “make the whole document secure at a higher level”.
(54)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Sometimes info from various officers would be merged into one report, or split – this was done by the management, who would also check the reports.
(55)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice ucpi.org.uk/publications/s…
[UCPI0000010718]
We were shown a document from July 1976 – it refers to a photograph of an RCG member being shown to informants and their identity 'positively identified'.
(56)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice It looks like HN354 was involved in this document; he doesn't remember this particular one but confirmed that this is the sort fo work they did – they often gathered such info for the security services (indicated by 'Box 500' on the doc).
(57)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice “I would say that almost every report that was submitted - on the groups we were working with - would be copied across to the security service”.
(58)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says that Derek Kneale was a frequent visitor to the SDS office/ safe-house, and knew the unit “very well”.
(59)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice How did he learn his trade-craft?
He talked about how the #spycops shared tips amongst themselves – eg about what vehicle to get.
(60)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says he got to know all his contemporaries during his time in the squad. They attended meetings at the safe-houses together, twice a week.

Occasionally, officers would talk to the managers in private; he says the “managers always made themselves available”.
(61)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says they were given a lot of leeway/ freedom - “left as individual officers” - there was no communication “once you were out in the field”
(62)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says he cannot remember any discussion about personal relationships at all.
(63)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice ucpi.org.uk/publications/g…
[UCPI0000034356]
Barr then read from the 'gisted' account of HN354 produced by the Inquiry.
(64)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He asked about the phrase “contrary to SDS directions” - what were these?

“There was no written or formal instruction given out on that” says Vince
(65)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice However, he went on to say that he was told “You should try and avoid that” - followed by “I hope I'm not contradicting myself too much” - “It was just that they were saying this shouldn't really go on”
(66)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says this wass HN34, who we now know was DCI Geoffrey Craft, one of the unit's managers.

(67)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Was he referring to 'Madeleine' as a woman “becoming an issue” in this document?

No, another woman.
He says he had no physical sexual relationship with this (5th) woman, but she “very much gave the impression” of wanting one”
(68)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He isn't sure when this was. “It's difficult to put the timings on it, because obviously we knew each other for a long time” - he estimated that this was 12-18 months into his active deployment.
(69)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice HN354 confirmed that this would have been a private conversation between him and Craft. He recalls saying that “it was becoming an issue” and asking for advice about what to do “if such situations developed”...

(70)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He then said that “he didn't think it was a good idea”

and clarified that this meant both a relationship and sex.

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Why wasn't all this mentioned in your witness statement? Barr asked him.

"I don't really have an answer for that” he admitted.
(72)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He went on to agree that some actions were “morally questionable”.

Barr asked him if an intimate relationship was morally questionable?
Vince agreed that “if it's sexual extending over a long period of time, I'd have definitely said that was wrong, yes”
(73)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice On reflection, he agreed that a one-night stand was also questionable.

He says he now has to accept that “that was an incorrect act”.
(74)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He was asked about committing crime – and mentioned the risk of “enthusiastic” arrest if caught carrying heavy wooden banner poles at demos.
(75)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He also admitted to drink-driving during his deployment, saying it was “considerably more common than it is now”
(76)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Asked about 'legal professional privilege' he misunderstood the question, thinking he was being asked about being arrested.
(77)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He said that “to be brutally honest”, he wasn't “really concerned” about the definition of 'subversion' but when pressed, said he thought “the subversive would seek to change things without going through the parliamentary system”.
(78)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He went on to talk about what the SDS did NOT report on - he mentioned MPs, and said “you had to very careful with reporting on journalists”.

He made the point that “I was essentially a foot soldier”, and would tend to seek authority from his managers.
(79)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He was also asked more about how he created his false identity, 'Vince Miller'.
He admitted that he at the time, he thought it unlikely that the deceased children's family would find out, so didn't worry about this.
(80)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He also didn't give much consideration to how they might feel, if this ever did come to light.

(81)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice On reflection, how does he feel now?
He says that it wouldn't be necessary now, as the register system has been modernised and changed – claiming that was the best they could do with the technology at the time.
(82)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He said he needed to do this in order to obtain other documents – for example, he had a driving licence and had to provide a date of birth for this.

(83)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He did a few things to make it harder for anyone to delve into his identity.
He says he picked a different first name – 'Vincent' is not his real name – unlike other officers.
The child whose identity he stole had no 'father' listed.

(84)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice We learnt more about his cover employer. This was a real employer. His managers spoke to them about this arrangement before the deployment began – and planned for how they would deal with any phone calls for or enquiries about 'Vince'.
(85)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Did he assess the risks of using his 'legend'?

He explained that he was mobile, so not so easy to contact while at work – he had a 'buffer' system.
(86)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice What would he do if confronted with a death certificate?
He said that there was a “constant concern” about being identified as a police officer, but he had no contingency plan – he'd have to “play it by ear”
(87)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Was the rest of his identity tested by managers?

Was he warned that activists might probe/ test/ challenge his cover identity?
(88)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He said they were told to contact the SDS office immediately if anything happened
He was recognised once, by a uniformed officer at a demo
He described how he got inro the habit of checking pubs before entering, to ensure his 2 different lives “weren't meeting inadvertently”
(89)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He remembers telling people that his parents had died (in response to a question about Xmas plans) but refutes telling anyone that he was in foster care, or anything about Vince's childhood.
(90)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says he made up the story about the 'toxic relationship' as a way of explaining his lack of a record collection and other belongings.
(91)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says it was “purely and simply to explain the circumstance in which I was living” and said the bedsit was the sort of place that nobody would want to stay for long.
(92)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says he has no idea what other #spycops officers' legends were.
He was able to draw on his personal experience of a break-up to inspire his cover story.
(93)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says the Walthamstow SWP was the “only group I joined”.

He said the SDS saw the SWP as a “feeder organisation” - from which they could move to other groups – it didn't work the other way round.
(94)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says it was easy to 'infiltrate' the group – he just approached local paper sellers and of course they invited him to their public speaker meetings at the pub.
(95)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He ways the SWP “was defined as subversive by those who are more expert in that filed”
and the Waltham Forest branch “was an active group”
(97)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice “I don't think I should talk about the far-right deployments at this stage.

He went on to comment that at the time the far-right were “not classified as 'subversive'” and therefore not their remit.
(98)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Was he able to influence the SWP?

He says he deliberately chose not to read up on left-wing theory before joining the party. He played 'Vince' as a politically naïve character, and waited for the party to educate him about politics.
(99)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice There was more discussion about how much communication there was between Vince and his managers, and how he received advice/ instructions/ requests for specific info.
(100)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice The meetings at the safe-houses were attended by the undercovers, the managers, office staff, any new recruits, and occasionally more senior @metpolice officers.
(101)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice They were told which safe-house the day's meeting would take place at.
One of these safe-houses changed while he was in the unit.
They had to be large enough to take a meeting of up to twenty people.
(102)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says it was a large flat, with 2 or 3 bedrooms, and a living room where the group met.

He would submit his diaries and written reports – usually hand-written although he thinks typewriters were issued later.
(103)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He said they would sometimes get feedback – he did himself, several times – if these reports weren't at the desired standard (of style or substance)
(104)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Did people speak freely?
Yes, but not so much about the details of the groups they were spying on.
They would discuss likely attendance/ numbers at demos.

They would work together to identify individuals (eg from an album of photos which was passed around).
(105)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He went on to explain the value of this peer support – there was nobody else these officers could discuss issues with – they couldn't talk to their families about their work.
(106)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He said these afternoons were 'relaxed' and 'laid back', and suggested that they got more so, especially if the #spycops were drinking.
(107)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice The managers would leave at some point and the #spycops stayed on – until it was time to go to their political meetings in the evening.
(108)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice “We were doing a job that not many people could or would do, and it was valuable” he insisted.
(109)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says that there were always opportunities for #spycops to discuss welfare issues with their managers, but “we'd probably have turned it down even if we needed their help”
(110)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice After this, the #SpyCopsInquiry took a 15 minute break
(111)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Barr asked him more about how well he got to know his #spycops colleagues?
“Some more than others, I suppose”.
HN354 said they were on friendly terms, but he got on better with some than others.
(112)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He was asked about HN304 – Graham Coates – says he never visited his family home.

He remembers both HN21 and HN86.
(113)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice What did the #spycops discuss? Did they discuss the organisational skills of the groups they infiltrated? They certainly did discuss the demands of being deployed in the different groups: those who were spying on the Maoists complained about how much reading they had to do.
(114)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He said they couldn't just “sit on the outside and take the Mickey” out of their targets – they had to take them seriously and have some respect for their political beliefs in order to be effective.
(115)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Sometimes they would discuss individual activists, he says.

However, he denied hearing any gossip about a woman who could lactate on demand.
(116)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Asked about the kind of 'jokes 'that were told, he commented on the need for 'stress relief' but claimed they were more likely to joke about other police officers than about activists.
(117)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He cannot recall any banter about individual #spycops or any 'sexual jokes' – saying “it was not like the stereotypical rugby club atmosphere after the match type atmosphere”.
(118)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He denied hearing any banter like “he'll have made her bite the blankets again last night”

(a cringingly unforgettable piece of evidence from last week's hearings)
(119)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He was asked if any of the jokes might have been considered offensive by feminists at the time, and in replying, mentioned the possibility of Jim Davidson's comedy being mentioned.
(120)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Did the managers join in with banter?
His response to this question was about people “having different personalities” and ways of interacting.
(121)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Did he remember Rick Gibson's reputation as a 'ladies man'? Yes, but from after Rick's time in the SDS. They remained friends after their deployments – he remembers Rick from that later period - “he was known...”
(122)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Barr repeated that we heard (from other former #spycops) that Rick Gibson had this reputation while he was in the SDS.
HN354 claims he only met Gibson after joining the unit, and that Gibson left shortly after HN354 was deployed.
(123)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says he didn't hear about Gibson having sexual relationships while undercover.
He says he is not entirely surprised.
(124)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Next, we heard about 'Jim Pickford' (HN300)

“He probably crossed the line” admitted Vince.
(125)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice There was then another break, caused by a concern that HN354 might have accidentally blurted out a name that is restricted by the Inquiry. Luckily this was inaudible to those in the hearing room.
(126)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says HN300 never spoke to him about sexual relationships, or about falling in love with anyone (not just activists but anyone else).
(127)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says “I think I heard stories when he was getting married for the second or third time”.

He seems to remember that this third wife was a “medical professional” but doesn't remember if 'Jim' met her while undercover.
(128)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Next he was asked about 'Barry Tompkins' (HN106). He says he was “somebody who enjoyed the company of women” but says he didn't try to seduce any in Vince's presence.

He recollects that Barry got married at around the same time as being sent undercover.
(129)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says his deployment didn't overlap with HN155 (cover name Phil Cooper) but recalled that he “got into all sorts of scrapes” - mentioning “women, drinks and all sorts of things” (very tantalising) .
(130)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He doesn't remember any rumours about Phil having sex while undercover but says “I wouldn't put it past him”.
(131)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He was asked again if he could remember any joking or banter on this subject.

“Never a subject of banter in my presence” HN354 remains convinced of this.
(132)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says he can't answer the question about managers turning a blind eye to these relationships – as he isn't sure that the managers were aware of them.

“It was certainly never openly said: 'get on with it' or anything like that”
(133)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice How important was #spycops officer retention? Did this mean that their requests were accommodated wherever possible? He says the managers were very tolerant of such requests, and very supportive.
(134)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Did the #spycops pass judgement on the merits of the politics of the groups they infiltrated?

He said that some groups were thought of as 'heavier' than others – more likely to cause trouble.
(135)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He said that they encountered people with “strange views” and had to cope with that. How did they feel about feminism?

(136)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Barr noted that there were no women in the SDS at this time, and mentioned the other evidence we have heard – about the women's lib movement being dismissed as a bunch of “angry women who could be ignored”.
Vince doesn't remember much.
(137)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He doesn't remember any racist joking or opinions, ever, by anyone, and says he is “absolutely certain” of this.

He added that he was referring to the SDS not the entire police service.
(138)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Paper sales were important to the SWP – every member was expected to sell the paper.

He attended pickets and other demos, but also birthday parties and socials.
(139)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He only remembers attending one music event – the Rock against Racism concert.

In his witness statement he said that reggae was popular in the SWP circles he infiltrated.

He discussed music with some people.
(140)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He would attend fundraisers, help members of the group move house, and go to the pub with them (during and) after meetings and other events.

They would also drink at activists' homes – he says he was invited.
(141)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He would drink pints, but claims he never got drunk.
(142)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Yesterday Madeleine said he was “always first to the bar” - Vince claims this was part of his tradecraft – he would go in to the pub and check out who else was in there – he says he continues to do this nowadays, position himself with his back to the wall, etc.
(143)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says he drank more than the SWP members “generally did”.

His managers didn't ask him about this drinking, but knew that they were meeting in pubs.
(144)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says he got to know branch members well, and says he used his position in the SWP to meet more people: “you tried to cast your net wider”
(145)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice “I wasn't sure I was an expert on their private lives” explaining that he didn't spend so much time with the married members of the branch, who had their own lives and professional lives going on.
(146)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says he kept a distance between himself and the activists:

“I had control over when they were getting in touch with me”

and didn't tend to invite them to his cover address.
(147)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Barr asked about him spending time at SWP members' homes.

He recalled the house-share where 'Madeleine' and other members lived.
(148)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice What did he know about her?

"I knew that she had been married and was no longer with her husband, and that was about it” he claims.
(149)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He was reminded that he reported on the couple's (1976) wedding in 1978
– was this normal? Barr asked.

Vince said the #spycops routinely reported on anything they discovered about a 'person of interest'.
(150)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice He says he doesn't think he met Madeleine's husband.

In his original statement, Vince told the Inquiry that he was not sure that she'd been married. His memory has been jogged by other evidence since.
(151)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice One of these things is a photograph taken after the Rock against Racism gig

Asked about the shirt we see in his statement, he quibbled about the colour of the shirt (is is white or is it 'pale'?

[It's a black & white photograph - which we are not allowed to show you yet]
(152)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Again, this appears to be a discrepancy in his written statement

in which HN354 said he did not wear white shirts during his deployment...

(153)

@UndercoverNet @ucpinquiry @MetPolice We then took an hour-long break for lunch.
(154)