Latest news with #UndercoverPolicingInquiry
Leader Live
3 days ago
- Politics
- Leader Live
Women targeted by undercover police hit back at calls for inquiry to be wound up
The cost of the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI) could top £200 million, the Daily Telegraph reported, quoting shadow home secretary Chris Philp as saying the cost was out of control and the inquiry should be 'rapidly wound up'. Former detective Martyn Underhill told the newspaper: 'The time taken, and the spiralling costs, are now becoming a national embarrassment.' The Telegraph also quoted an unnamed political source as claiming the inquiry had become a 'gravy train' for lawyers. But campaign group Police Spies Out of Lives, which represents women deceived into relationships with undercover officers, said their outrage should be directed at the practices of the police moles rather than the cost of officially exposing them. A spokesperson said: 'Whilst we agree that the public inquiry into undercover policing has taken far too long to deliver its findings – in part by allowing the police to delay matters with endless requests for anonymity for their officers – we are dismayed that the outrage expressed by the shadow home secretary, 'political sources' and others is simply the inquiry's cost. 'The real outrage should be in response to the appalling actions of this unlawful, undemocratic undercover policing unit and the lack of legal safeguards in place to prevent this happening again. 'To end the inquiry now would waste the opportunity to understand this abusive state overreach and to make meaningful recommendations for the protection of current and future citizens.' The UCPI was set up in 2015 to look at the activities of two shadowy police units – the Metropolitan Police's Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), which existed between 1968 and 2008; and the undercover part of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU), which existed between 1999 and 2010. A public outcry was sparked when it was revealed women had been tricked into sexual relationships with undercover officers and that police spies had used the identities of dead children without their families' permission. Family justice campaigns, including for murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, were spied upon; and there are claims that some officers were arrested or prosecuted for crimes under fake identities, leading to potential miscarriages of justice for their co-defendants. The next batch of evidence hearings, looking at the SDS between 1993 and 2007 which will cover the murder of Stephen Lawrence, are due to begin in October, and the inquiry itself is planned to finish in 2026. To date, the cost of the inquiry itself is just under £110 million. An inquiry spokesman said: 'The inquiry remains committed to getting to the truth of undercover policing and completing its investigations into over 50 years of secret policing into people's private lives and political movements. 'This includes uncovering the deception of women into sexual relationships, the use of deceased children's identities as cover names and reporting on political and justice groups. 'To date, the inquiry has heard evidence of allegations of serious criminality by undercover officers in their undercover personas. 'The inquiry has made several referrals to the Miscarriage of Justice Panel in respect of convictions believed to be unsafe. 'In some cases this has led to the quashing of convictions, including that of an activist who had their conviction quashed earlier this year based on evidence uncovered by the inquiry. 'The inquiry is transparent on its costs and publishes quarterly updates on spend on the inquiry website.'
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Women targeted by undercover police hit back at calls for inquiry to be wound up
The cost of the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI) could top £200 million, the Daily Telegraph reported, quoting shadow home secretary Chris Philp as saying the cost was out of control and the inquiry should be 'rapidly wound up'. Former detective Martyn Underhill told the newspaper: 'The time taken, and the spiralling costs, are now becoming a national embarrassment.' The Telegraph also quoted an unnamed political source as claiming the inquiry had become a 'gravy train' for lawyers. But campaign group Police Spies Out of Lives, which represents women deceived into relationships with undercover officers, said their outrage should be directed at the practices of the police moles rather than the cost of officially exposing them. A spokesperson said: 'Whilst we agree that the public inquiry into undercover policing has taken far too long to deliver its findings – in part by allowing the police to delay matters with endless requests for anonymity for their officers – we are dismayed that the outrage expressed by the shadow home secretary, 'political sources' and others is simply the inquiry's cost. 'The real outrage should be in response to the appalling actions of this unlawful, undemocratic undercover policing unit and the lack of legal safeguards in place to prevent this happening again. 'To end the inquiry now would waste the opportunity to understand this abusive state overreach and to make meaningful recommendations for the protection of current and future citizens.' The UCPI was set up in 2015 to look at the activities of two shadowy police units – the Metropolitan Police's Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), which existed between 1968 and 2008; and the undercover part of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU), which existed between 1999 and 2010. A public outcry was sparked when it was revealed women had been tricked into sexual relationships with undercover officers and that police spies had used the identities of dead children without their families' permission. Family justice campaigns, including for murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, were spied upon; and there are claims that some officers were arrested or prosecuted for crimes under fake identities, leading to potential miscarriages of justice for their co-defendants. The next batch of evidence hearings, looking at the SDS between 1993 and 2007 which will cover the murder of Stephen Lawrence, are due to begin in October, and the inquiry itself is planned to finish in 2026. To date, the cost of the inquiry itself is just under £110 million. An inquiry spokesman said: 'The inquiry remains committed to getting to the truth of undercover policing and completing its investigations into over 50 years of secret policing into people's private lives and political movements. 'This includes uncovering the deception of women into sexual relationships, the use of deceased children's identities as cover names and reporting on political and justice groups. 'To date, the inquiry has heard evidence of allegations of serious criminality by undercover officers in their undercover personas. 'The inquiry has made several referrals to the Miscarriage of Justice Panel in respect of convictions believed to be unsafe. 'In some cases this has led to the quashing of convictions, including that of an activist who had their conviction quashed earlier this year based on evidence uncovered by the inquiry. 'The inquiry is transparent on its costs and publishes quarterly updates on spend on the inquiry website.'
South Wales Guardian
4 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Women targeted by undercover police hit back at calls for inquiry to be wound up
The cost of the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI) could top £200 million, the Daily Telegraph reported, quoting shadow home secretary Chris Philp as saying the cost was out of control and the inquiry should be 'rapidly wound up'. Former detective Martyn Underhill told the newspaper: 'The time taken, and the spiralling costs, are now becoming a national embarrassment.' The Telegraph also quoted an unnamed political source as claiming the inquiry had become a 'gravy train' for lawyers. But campaign group Police Spies Out of Lives, which represents women deceived into relationships with undercover officers, said their outrage should be directed at the practices of the police moles rather than the cost of officially exposing them. A spokesperson said: 'Whilst we agree that the public inquiry into undercover policing has taken far too long to deliver its findings – in part by allowing the police to delay matters with endless requests for anonymity for their officers – we are dismayed that the outrage expressed by the shadow home secretary, 'political sources' and others is simply the inquiry's cost. 'The real outrage should be in response to the appalling actions of this unlawful, undemocratic undercover policing unit and the lack of legal safeguards in place to prevent this happening again. 'To end the inquiry now would waste the opportunity to understand this abusive state overreach and to make meaningful recommendations for the protection of current and future citizens.' The UCPI was set up in 2015 to look at the activities of two shadowy police units – the Metropolitan Police's Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), which existed between 1968 and 2008; and the undercover part of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU), which existed between 1999 and 2010. A public outcry was sparked when it was revealed women had been tricked into sexual relationships with undercover officers and that police spies had used the identities of dead children without their families' permission. Family justice campaigns, including for murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, were spied upon; and there are claims that some officers were arrested or prosecuted for crimes under fake identities, leading to potential miscarriages of justice for their co-defendants. The next batch of evidence hearings, looking at the SDS between 1993 and 2007 which will cover the murder of Stephen Lawrence, are due to begin in October, and the inquiry itself is planned to finish in 2026. To date, the cost of the inquiry itself is just under £110 million. An inquiry spokesman said: 'The inquiry remains committed to getting to the truth of undercover policing and completing its investigations into over 50 years of secret policing into people's private lives and political movements. 'This includes uncovering the deception of women into sexual relationships, the use of deceased children's identities as cover names and reporting on political and justice groups. 'To date, the inquiry has heard evidence of allegations of serious criminality by undercover officers in their undercover personas. 'The inquiry has made several referrals to the Miscarriage of Justice Panel in respect of convictions believed to be unsafe. 'In some cases this has led to the quashing of convictions, including that of an activist who had their conviction quashed earlier this year based on evidence uncovered by the inquiry. 'The inquiry is transparent on its costs and publishes quarterly updates on spend on the inquiry website.'
North Wales Chronicle
4 days ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Women targeted by undercover police hit back at calls for inquiry to be wound up
The cost of the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI) could top £200 million, the Daily Telegraph reported, quoting shadow home secretary Chris Philp as saying the cost was out of control and the inquiry should be 'rapidly wound up'. Former detective Martyn Underhill told the newspaper: 'The time taken, and the spiralling costs, are now becoming a national embarrassment.' The Telegraph also quoted an unnamed political source as claiming the inquiry had become a 'gravy train' for lawyers. But campaign group Police Spies Out of Lives, which represents women deceived into relationships with undercover officers, said their outrage should be directed at the practices of the police moles rather than the cost of officially exposing them. A spokesperson said: 'Whilst we agree that the public inquiry into undercover policing has taken far too long to deliver its findings – in part by allowing the police to delay matters with endless requests for anonymity for their officers – we are dismayed that the outrage expressed by the shadow home secretary, 'political sources' and others is simply the inquiry's cost. 'The real outrage should be in response to the appalling actions of this unlawful, undemocratic undercover policing unit and the lack of legal safeguards in place to prevent this happening again. 'To end the inquiry now would waste the opportunity to understand this abusive state overreach and to make meaningful recommendations for the protection of current and future citizens.' The UCPI was set up in 2015 to look at the activities of two shadowy police units – the Metropolitan Police's Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), which existed between 1968 and 2008; and the undercover part of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU), which existed between 1999 and 2010. A public outcry was sparked when it was revealed women had been tricked into sexual relationships with undercover officers and that police spies had used the identities of dead children without their families' permission. Family justice campaigns, including for murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, were spied upon; and there are claims that some officers were arrested or prosecuted for crimes under fake identities, leading to potential miscarriages of justice for their co-defendants. The next batch of evidence hearings, looking at the SDS between 1993 and 2007 which will cover the murder of Stephen Lawrence, are due to begin in October, and the inquiry itself is planned to finish in 2026. To date, the cost of the inquiry itself is just under £110 million. An inquiry spokesman said: 'The inquiry remains committed to getting to the truth of undercover policing and completing its investigations into over 50 years of secret policing into people's private lives and political movements. 'This includes uncovering the deception of women into sexual relationships, the use of deceased children's identities as cover names and reporting on political and justice groups. 'To date, the inquiry has heard evidence of allegations of serious criminality by undercover officers in their undercover personas. 'The inquiry has made several referrals to the Miscarriage of Justice Panel in respect of convictions believed to be unsafe. 'In some cases this has led to the quashing of convictions, including that of an activist who had their conviction quashed earlier this year based on evidence uncovered by the inquiry. 'The inquiry is transparent on its costs and publishes quarterly updates on spend on the inquiry website.'
The Independent
06-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
For over a decade, I had no clue the man I shared a bed with was a Met police spy
For 40 years, dozens of women in England and Wales were deceived into forming long-term intimate relationships with undercover Met Police officers – I am one of those women. There have been over 50 of us identified as survivors of this appalling deception. The real number is likely to be much higher. Some relationships lasted up to six years, and four of the officers even fathered children with the women they targeted on deployment. The ongoing Undercover Policing Inquiry was announced in 2015, but delays from anonymity battles and legal arguments meant it only started in 2020. There is much to cover. From 1968 until at least 2011, 140 officers from the Special Demonstration Squad [SDS] and the National Public Order Intelligence Unit [NPOIU] targeted over 1000 political groups. We now know that many of the police spies on active duty in these units formed deceptive sexual relationships with activists as an operational strategy. Andy Coles, the former SDS member turned Tory councillor, even produced a tradecraft manual: a 'how-to' for infiltrating people's lives. In an ironic twist, it was Coles' high-profile brother, Rev Richard Coles, who let slip that he was a spy in his autobiography. The relationships were used as part of the police's strategy to glean information from target groups, bolster the undercover officers' fake identities and allow police spies to infiltrate left-wing and progressive groups, often climbing to positions at the highest level. Other tactics included spreading misinformation to disrupt relationships and inciting activists to commit offences. Several miscarriages of justice have occurred as a result. Of the 25 police spies we know of who formed these abusive relationships over the years, only two were women. The majority of the male undercovers were married. Their wives were equally unaware of their husbands' secret identities and of us women being deceived into intimate relationships. For more than two years, I was deceived into a relationship with the Metropolitan Police officer Carlo Soracchi, codenamed 'Neri'. We met in September 2002 at an anti-war demonstration in London. Carlo was a steward on the march, alongside friends of mine who were trade union and anti-racist activists. We were immediately inseparable, and within six weeks, he moved into my flat, asking me to marry him soon after. We lived together for two years and were planning to have children until he left suddenly in 2004 in the guise of a mental health crisis. Like many women before me, I discovered a decade later that Carlo had led two lives – one with me, as a locksmith and left-wing activist, and the other with his wife, as a highly-trained undercover officer, operating in a secretive unit within the Metropolitan Police. For over a decade, I had no clue that the man I had lived with was a spy, paid to lie by the state. The discovery of the officers' true identities has left most of us suffering from trauma. Unsurprisingly, we struggle to trust people and to form new relationships. For some, the relationships happened during the years when they might have had children, creating a whole other layer of loss to process. Now, a new ITV series shines a very strong light on one of the darkest aspects of the spy cops scandal and reveals the scale of our betrayal by the state. The three-part documentary follows the stories of five women who uncovered the truth about the men they had believed to be devoted partners but who abruptly exited their lives, as Carlo did mine, using harrowing – and fabricated – stories. Carlo left after appearing to have a breakdown. Leading up to his final disappearance, he went missing several times and threatened suicide. Through detective work, detailed research, and even travelling abroad, the women worked together to unmask these men and expose their true identities as undercover police spies. The five women who feature in the documentary series, Belinda Harvey, Helen Steel, 'Alison', 'Lisa' and 'Naomi' (the latter three are pseudonyms) were part of the first group of eight to uncover the scandal and initiate the legal action which ultimately forced the Metropolitan Police to make an unprecedented public apology. The Met said that the relationships were 'abusive, deceitful, manipulative, and wrong' and admitted that the officers' managers had failed in their duty to prevent the relationships from happening, as a result of a systemic culture of sexism within the force. The five women wrote a book about this state-sponsored betrayal and their incredible journey towards exposing the truth. A new edition has been released to mark the TV adaptation and renamed the only thing it could be: The Undercover Police Scandal. Let their bravery – and our stories – be what people remember from this. That, and how the police and government betrayed the very people they are supposed to protect.
