Undercover Policing Inquiry

The Undercover Policing Inquiry or Pitchford Inquiry is an independent public inquiry into undercover policing in England and Wales since 1968. It was announced by Theresa May, the United Kingdom Home Secretary on 12 March 2015, and is due to report back in 2023.[1][2] It is chaired by Sir John Mitting, following the resignation due to ill-health of Lord Justice Pitchford.[1][3] In March 2018 campaigners and their legal team walked out of a hearing of the inquiry, calling for Mitting to step down.[4]

Undercover Policing Inquiry
Date2 November 2020 (2020-11-02) – (in progress)
LocationLondon, United Kingdom
Participants
Websitewww.ucpi.org.uk

Background

Theresa May commissioned the Undercover Policing Inquiry in 2015, in response to a string of allegations about the activities of undercover units, including the disclosure that police had spied on campaigners fighting for justice for Stephen Lawrence.[5]

In 2012 Theresa May had commissioned Mark Ellison QC to review allegations of corruption relating to the initial police investigation of the 1993 murder of Lawrence.[6] The Ellison Report, presented to Parliament on 6 March 2014, found a number of serious concerns relating to undercover policing practices. Ellison also highlighted a possible link between an allegedly corrupt police officer involved in the Lawrence campaign, and the 1987 murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan.[7]

Remit

The inquiry is investigating the undercover infiltration of more than 1,000 political groups since 1968.[5] It primarily examines the conduct of two now disbanded units: the Metropolitan Police's Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) and the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU).[8] It is looking at allegations that undercover officers infiltrated and disrupted social justice groups and movements, deceived women into intimate relationships, stole the names of dead children to create fake identities, and concealed evidence in court cases.[5]

Evidence

As of April 2018 the inquiry has confirmed that undercover police had infiltrated the following groups and movements:

Anarchist groups, Animal Liberation Front, Anti-Apartheid Movement, Anti-Fascist Action, Big Flame, Black Power movement, Brixton Hunt Saboteurs, Colin Roach Centre, Dambusters Mobilising Committee, Dissent!, Earth First!, Essex Hunt Saboteurs, Friends of Freedom Press Ltd, Globalise Resistance, Independent Labour Party, Independent Working Class Association, International Marxist Group, International Socialists, Irish National Liberation Solidarity Front, London Animal Action, London Animal Rights Coalition, London Boots Action Group, London Greenpeace, Militant, No Platform, Antifa, Operation Omega, Reclaim the Streets, Red Action, Republican Forum, Revolutionary Socialist Students Federation, Socialist Party (England and Wales), Socialist Workers Party, South London Animal Movement (SLAM), Tri-Continental, Troops Out Movement, Vietnam Solidarity Campaign, West London Hunt Saboteurs, Workers Revolutionary Party, Young Haganah, Young Liberals, Youth against Racism in Europe.[9]

The Undercover Research Group has published a very extensive list of all known spycops and the groups they spied upon.

The inquiry started hearing evidence on 2 November 2020, with seven days of opening statements then seven days of evidence hearings. The hearings are conducted remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The inquiry will focus on the deployment of about 140 undercover police officers to spy on over 1,000 political groups over more than 40 years.[10][11]

Criticism of the inquiry

Criticisms leveled against the inquiry have included concerns about long delays in its work, the perceived suitability of John Mitting as chair, and the decision to allow many undercover officers giving evidence to the inquiry to remain anonymous.[5]

In March 2018 at least 60 campaigners and their legal teams walked out of hearings examining whether the identities of undercover officers should be concealed.[5]

There are a number of the CPs [ Core Participants ] within the inquiry who are campaigning together. They are the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance [ COPS ], and Police Spies Out of Lives.

References
  1. "Home". Undercover Policing Inquiry. Undercover Policing Inquiry. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  2. Watts, Rob, 1948-.... (2020). Criminalizing dissent : the liberal state and the problem of legitimacy. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-03957-4. OCLC 1122828954.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. Sir John Mitting to take over undercover police inquiry
  4. Undercover policing inquiry: Chairman urged to quit, BBC News, 21 March 2018.
  5. Evans, Rob (10 May 2018). "Undercover policing inquiry will not deliver final report before 2023". The Guardian.
  6. Grice, Andrew (2 June 2012). "Lawrence murder: Police 'corruption' will be investigated". The Independent.
  7. Evans, Caroline (7 March 2014). "Daniel Morgan murder case 'corruption link' with Lawrence investigation". BBC News.
  8. Casciani, Dominic (24 March 2019). "How long will the undercover policing inquiry take?". BBC News.
  9. "Cover names - Undercover Policing Inquiry". Undercover Policing Inquiry. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
  10. "Undercover Policing Inquiry's hearings start Monday". Undercover Policing Inquiry. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  11. Evans, Rob; Dodd, Vikram; Lewis, Paul (28 October 2020). "Police spying inquiry to examine targeting of UK black justice groups". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 November 2020.

Campaign links

Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance

http://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/

Police Spies Out of Lives

https://policespiesoutoflives.org.uk/

The Undercover Research Project

http://undercoverresearch.net/

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