Thread by @copscampaign

The #spycopsinquiry is due to start again at 10am.
Today we'll hear Opening Statements from the Home Office, but also from many of the 'Non State Core Participants' (i.e. people who were targeted by the Special Demonstration Squad and other #spycops ).
You can watch online...

https://twitter.com/ucpinquiry/status/1523947198102355969

We put together a report on yesterday's hearing - campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/2022/05/09/ucp…
You can download yesterday's Statements & related evidence from the #spycopsinquiry site: ucpi.org.uk/hearing/ucpi-t… incl the full transcript: ucpi.org.uk/wp-content/upl…

First up today, we've had Catherine Brown on screen, making an extremely statement on behalf of the Home Secretary. And now a ten minute break before we start hearing from the Core Participants...

#spycops
#spycopsinquiry

The Home Office did send in a written Opening Statement too - which you can now download from ucpi.org.uk/wp-content/upl…

#spycops

Next we hear from James Scobie QC, who is representing 3 of the Non State Core Participants in this #spycopsinquiry
Lindsey German, 'Mary' and Richard Chessum.

#spycops

Ms German has been a member of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) for many years. Both the Troops Out Movement (TOM) and SWP were heavily infiltrated by multiple #spycops over the years.

Scobie is pointing out that there was no justification for this level of infiltration, or the subsequent #Blacklisting

#spycops

You can download the full (and very detailed) written Statement from ucpi.org.uk/wp-content/upl… now

#spycops

The volume of reports produced by the #spycops increased exponentially - from 200 in 1969 to almost 10,000 by the end of 1971 - and the SDS continued to churn out thousands every year from then onwards.

However, there are hardly any reports about public order issues, despite this supposedly being the reason for the SDS unit's existence, and the justification for their spying

The #spycops reported on, and disseminated, the details of thousands of SWP
members

"their personal lives, physical appearances, homes, children, finances, jobs, holiday plans, weddings, sexuality, paternity, relationship statuses, intelligence level, trade union affiliations, health, childcare arrangements, vehicles, studies, and opinions."

But as Scobie says, "There is a striking lack of reports on criminality, public disorder or violence".

#spycops

We now know that the SWP was infiltrated by at least 24 officers from the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS). And that at least nine of these #spycops took positions of responsibility in the Party.

The only references to disorder in the Annual Reports were in respect of processions organised by the National Front.

#spycops

Racially motivated attacks, such as the murder of Altab Ali in East London, were not a concern to the police. Instead they chose to concentrate on infiltrating and reporting on the left-wing anti-racist activists who demonstrated and took direct action vs the NF & other fascists

According to the evidence of D.I. Angus McIntosh (HN244), there
was a “high level policy decision” not to infiltrate the far right.

"A policy decision
is the only explanation that makes sense. What was that policy?" asks Scobie.

#spycops

Fascist demonstrations/ processions caused huge trauma violence and problems for communities in different parts of London (Southall, Lewisham and Wood Green are all mentioned) - yet the police continued to focus their efforts on policing those who opposed them.

#spycops

We hear about Joan Rudder - a former SWP member, who has supplied a Witness Statement to this #spycopsinquiry - whose head was split open as a result of @metpoliceuk beating

#spycops

@metpoliceuk In more than one case, the police managed to kill anti-racist demonstrators (in Southall and Red Lion Square), and seriously injured countless others.
The #spycops were complicit in allowing the violence of the far-right to occur, and we can see their prejudice in their reports.

@metpoliceuk Who defines "subversion"?

MI5 unilaterally created a new definition in the 1970s: "activities threatening the safety or well-being of the State and intended to undermine or overthrow parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means".

@metpoliceuk They briefed Lord Harris with this new wording before his 1975 speech in parliament.
This meant that henceforth they could claim that almost any political activity (however lawful or non-violent it was) was in fact "subversion".

#spycops

@metpoliceuk This new definition meant that anyone could be considered "potentially subversive", and therefore subject to covert intelligence-gathering and the kind of political policing the #spycops were sent to do.

@metpoliceuk Serious concerns were raised by other Lords, senior police officers and other members of the Establishment.
In the absence of lawful authority, MI5 kept referring to what they called "the Harris definition".

#spycops

@metpoliceuk As Scobie points out, "transforming society for the benefit of the majority by the majority should not be seen as a threat to the 'safety or the well-being of the State'.
The SWP campaigned on a number of issues with the aim of transforming society, but was open & democratic.

@metpoliceuk Militant trade unionism, of the kind seen in 1972, was about fighting short time working & redundancies, and demanding improvements to pay and conditions.

@metpoliceuk Neither Special Branch nor MI5 were permitted to investigate this kind of activity, but the #spycops did this through their targeting of SWP members who were involved in industrial struggles.

@metpoliceuk We now know that #spycops ('Clark' and 'Cooper') collected all sorts of data and personal details of hundreds of party members - they had access to the SWP's headquarters and computer system - and it seems likely that this vast volume of 'intelligence' was sent to MI5

@metpoliceuk It was also shared with employers and used for 'vetting' and #Blacklisting - which explains why so many party activists and trade unionists lost their jobs and/or found it near-impossible to find work in future. Richard Chessum was just one such victim.

@metpoliceuk Scobie describes how this "close and mutually profitable relationship” (between employers and Special Branch) operated. The SDS's intelligence was used to update the lists of those blacklisted, and these lists were passed on to all sorts of employers.

#spycops

@metpoliceuk These employers included Govt departments and the Civil Service, but also public bodies such as the BBC and Bank of England, British Airways, and many private corporations, including 'household names' like Rolls Royce, ICI, Shell, British Steel, British Leyland etc
#Blacklisting

@metpoliceuk Special Branch did a lot of 'vetting', and this meant producing reports on people employed as social workers, teachers, hospital workers, DHSS staff, fire fighters, bank staff, railway workers, post officer staff, probation officers and many more.
#spycops
#Blacklisting

@metpoliceuk The 'True Spies' (TV) documentary detailed the cosy arrangement that existed between the police and Ford Motors.
#spycops
#Blacklisting

@metpoliceuk 'Colin Clark' himself - after 5 years embedded deep within the SWP - recognised that it was not a "subversive" organisation.

#spycops

@metpoliceuk The #spycopsinquiry is having a short break, and will start again soon.

Next we'll hear from Fiona Murphy QC, representing the 'Category F' core participants.

These are families who have learnt that the identities of their deceased loved ones were stolen by the #spycops

@metpoliceuk You can now download their written Opening Statement from ucpi.org.uk/wp-content/upl…

And watch online at

@metpoliceuk These families made Opening Statements earlier - in Phases 1 & 2 of the @ucpinquiry - describing their horror at discovering how the #spycops had made use of their deceased relatives' identities (and how devastating it was to lose their loved ones at such young ages)

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry The families find this practice both morally abhorrent and unjustifiable, and heard last year that some individual #spycops had concerns about this 'tradecraft'.

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry They are particularly interested in the period being covered in this 'Tranche' (1968-82) and keen to find out who instituted and authorised this practice of creating fake identities based on real people who had died.

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry Which senior officers and managers were involved in this?

#spycops

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry sadly, one of the 'category F' core participants, Barbara Shaw, passed away in May 2021. She had been instrumental in complaining about the #spycops appropriation of her infant son's identity and pursuing justice for other families who found themselves in the same position

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry She passed away before getting the answers she sought from this Inquiry. Will the remaining families get justice any time soon?
#spycopsinquiry

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry Finding out that their loved ones' names and identities had been appropriated in this way was deeply distressing for the families involved. They demand truth and plead for that to come sooner rather than later.

#spycops

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry One of the families is only permitted to participate in the #spycopsinquiry anonymously.

This is because anonymity was granted to the officer who stole their relative's identity.

This has had an impact on them seeking support, and left them feeling silenced and degraded.

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry Did the @ucpinquiry consider them when granting a Restriction Order over the publication of this #spycops cover name?

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry Plenty of other undercover officers (incl other members of the SDS unit) were able to create fictitious identities without stealing the names of dead people.
These were all effective, and none of these deployments were compromised as a result.

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry We have now heard of instances of fake identities being compromised - by #spycops officers making mistakes - eg 'Graham Coates' (HN304)

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry 'Rick Gibson' (HN297, real name Richard Clarke) was uncovered by Big Flame activists who had found a 1976 death certificate for 'Gibson'. Why did they not stop this practice at that time?

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry We have heard that a number of officers refused to create a cover identity in this way - they were uncomfortable with using the identity of a deceased child - so why did the managers insist on continuing with this method?

#spycops

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry We have heard differing accounts from different witnesses so far - were #spycops instructed by their managers to go to Somerset House? Were they taken there by colleagues who were already undercover? Were other back-office staff involved? Who was responsible?

#spycops

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry "The SDS was an entirely misguided enterprise" says Murphy.
"It operated in secrecy and isolation" and much of the illegality "was compelled" by its managers, she went on to say.

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry According to her the managers must bear responsibility for the "toxic culture" of the #spycops units.

The new Commissioner has admitted that toxicity still festers within the @metpolice and is not simply the case of a few 'bad apples'.

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Mitting thanked her, and clarified something he'd said yesterday - that he hoped to get to the truth about when the #spycops had begun using this particular legend-building practice (to the nearest month or so).
The #spycopsinquiry is taking another short break now.

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Break over, we're now hearing from Charlotte Kilroy QC, who represents the #Category H' Core Participants - mainly women who were deceived into intimate relationships by #spycops

#SpyCopsInquiry

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice She has started with an explanation of some legal history - explaining the principles established hundreds of years ago which underpin modern policing law in the UK.

#spycops

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Basically, the Government must have legal authority before interfering with people's rights. Otherwise it is considered trespass, and a breach of those legal rights.

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Fast forward to 1968, and the establishment of a new secretive undercover political policing unit... their actions significantly breached numerous of those established parameters of common law and policing principles. But because the unit's existence was kept secret, nobody knew.

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice Well, very few people knew. Successive Home Secretaries knew, and continued to fund the work of the SDS and its successor #spycops unit, the NPOIU.

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice In 'democratic' societies, there are limits to the powers of the police, and the level of surveillance they are permitted to carry out.
"Covert powers are reserved for the most serious crimes and threats" she reminds us.
#spycops

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice The #spycops units were kept secret by their bosses, the police chiefs, the security services, the Home Secretaries etc. for decades.
Their existence only came to light by accident, when Mark Kennedy's passport was found in a glove-box by @JustLisa2010

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice @JustLisa2010 Kilroy is explaining just why the very basis of the #spycops operations is unlawful.
She asserts that this #spycopsinquiry CAN examine lawfulness - despite what Sanders said yesterday - just not determine liability - so Sanders might well wish to withdraw his submissions

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice @JustLisa2010 Her written Opening Statement goes into a LOT more detail and you can now download it from ucpi.org.uk/wp-content/upl…

#spycops

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice @JustLisa2010 The actions of the #spycops are in breach of internationally recognised human rights (such as Article 8) and English common law. Somebody's home and person are considered 'inviolable'.

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice @JustLisa2010 Kilroy is scathing about both Skelton and Sanders and the submissions they made on behalf of the police yesterday, and suggests that they were legally wrong.

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice @JustLisa2010 In particular, they sought to diminish the findings of the IPT (Investigatory Powers Tribunal) in the case brought by Kate Wilson.

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice @JustLisa2010 The IPT finally passed judgment in her case recently, and found that the police had breached Kate's human rights (not just Article 8, but also Articles 3, 10, 11 and 14)

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice @JustLisa2010 You can read more about this important IPT case here: blackstonechambers.com/news/kate-wils…
#spycops

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice @JustLisa2010 Kilroy has mentioned the concept of 'policing by consent' and the 'Peelian principles', based on the idea that the police are the public, and MUST comply with the law in their actions. They are not allowed to 'trick' people or break the law without proper legal authority to do so

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice @JustLisa2010 The Category H core participants believe that the #spycops trespassed into their private lives, unlawfully collected personal information about them and transgressed the norms of police conduct, common and civil law, and breached their human rights in multiple ways.

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice @JustLisa2010 This was not proportionate and cannot be justified in any way.
There was no meaningful safeguarding in place to protect against the risk of these abuses taking place, and no real consideration given to the likely effects of these tactics on members of the public.

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice @JustLisa2010 It is already clear that the SDS's activities were unlawful and unjustified from the earliest years of the unit's existence - and this Inquiry must investigate why this abusive, intrusive political policing was allowed to occur, and why it was allowed to continue for so long.

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice @JustLisa2010 Many of these problems were apparent decades ago, and concerns were raised, but the #spycops continued to operate...

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice @JustLisa2010 These women have been asking for disclosure ever since they discovered they'd been targeted in this way. Some of them have been waiting for many years, and despite the 'apology' made by the @metpoliceuk still have not seen their files or any of the information stored about them.

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice @JustLisa2010 Mitting says he agrees with Kilroy that the legal framework around these operations must be explored and determined by the #SpyCopsInquiry - "I do not intend to shirk it" he says.

#spycops

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice @JustLisa2010 However he is unwilling to 'disrupt' the order of the Inquiry and grant disclosure to the women any earlier than planned - they have to wait in the queue like everyone else - even though he is aware of their 'disappointment' about this.

#spycops

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice @JustLisa2010 Obviously, the police could do the decent thing and hand over everyone's files today if they chose to. And if their 'apology' was as heart-felt as Skelton suggested.

#spycops

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice @JustLisa2010 #SpyCopsInquiry now breaking for lunch - will be back online in an hour - at

#spycops

@metpoliceuk @ucpinquiry @MetPolice @JustLisa2010 @threadreaderapp unroll