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Met Police apology for women tricked into relationships Met Police apology for women tricked into relationships
(about 1 hour later)
The Metropolitan Police has made an "unreserved apology" to seven women who were tricked into relationships with undercover officers.The Metropolitan Police has made an "unreserved apology" to seven women who were tricked into relationships with undercover officers.
Scotland Yard said the women were deceived "pure and simple".Scotland Yard said the women were deceived "pure and simple".
The public apology and compensation covers sexual relationships conducted by officers from two now-disbanded undercover units.The public apology and compensation covers sexual relationships conducted by officers from two now-disbanded undercover units.
In a statement, the women said it would never "make up for what we and others have endured".In a statement, the women said it would never "make up for what we and others have endured".
Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt said that he wanted to be absolutely clear the relationships had been wrong.Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt said that he wanted to be absolutely clear the relationships had been wrong.
He warned that any future officer who had a sexual relationship with someone they were targeting risked prosecution, even if they believed it was necessary in a life-and-death situation.He warned that any future officer who had a sexual relationship with someone they were targeting risked prosecution, even if they believed it was necessary in a life-and-death situation.
The unprecedented settlements, the amount of which is undisclosed, relate to officers who worked undercover for the Special Demonstration Squad, part of the Metropolitan Police, and the separate National Public Order Intelligence Unit. The unprecedented, undisclosed settlements relate to officers who worked undercover for the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), part of the Metropolitan Police, and the separate National Public Order Intelligence Unit.
Both teams deployed officers on long-term undercover operations to infiltrate radical political or social causes, such as environmental campaigners, anarchists and animal rights groups.Both teams deployed officers on long-term undercover operations to infiltrate radical political or social causes, such as environmental campaigners, anarchists and animal rights groups.
'Painful' legal battle'Painful' legal battle
The women said they were pleased that after a four-year legal battle the Met Police recognised the "state sponsored, deceptive relationships".The women said they were pleased that after a four-year legal battle the Met Police recognised the "state sponsored, deceptive relationships".
"We have worked together on this painful and deeply personal legal case in order to expose the serious and systemic abuse of power by undercover police officers and their managers. "We have worked together on this painful and deeply personal legal case in order to expose the serious and systemic abuse of power by undercover police officers and their managers."
"Although no amount of 'sorry', or financial compensation, can make up for what we and others have endured, we are pleased the police have been forced to acknowledge the abusive nature of these relationships and that they should never happen." "Although no amount of 'sorry', or financial compensation, can make up for what we and others have endured, we are pleased the police have been forced to acknowledge the abusive nature of these relationships and that they should never happen.
"By linking our cases together we have been able to evidence a clear pattern of abusive, discriminatory behaviour towards women which amounts to institutional sexism by the Metropolitan Police," they said."By linking our cases together we have been able to evidence a clear pattern of abusive, discriminatory behaviour towards women which amounts to institutional sexism by the Metropolitan Police," they said.
The settlements cover the actions of five former undercover officers, including Bob Lambert and Jim Boyling from the Met and Mark Kennedy of the NPOIU. These three are said by lawyers to have had more than one undercover relationship.The settlements cover the actions of five former undercover officers, including Bob Lambert and Jim Boyling from the Met and Mark Kennedy of the NPOIU. These three are said by lawyers to have had more than one undercover relationship.
One of these, between Mr Lambert and a woman called Jacqui, led to the birth of a child. That case was separately settled last year for more than £400,000.One of these, between Mr Lambert and a woman called Jacqui, led to the birth of a child. That case was separately settled last year for more than £400,000.
The two other officers whose actions are covered by this settlement were only known by their targets as "Mark Cassidy" and "John Barker". They have been identified in Parliament as Mark Jenner and John Dines."The two other officers whose actions are covered by this settlement were only known by their targets as "Mark Cassidy" and "John Barker". They have been identified in Parliament as Mark Jenner and John Dines."
In each case the officers eventually disappeared, leaving their partners searching for years for answers.In each case the officers eventually disappeared, leaving their partners searching for years for answers.
The relationships occurred at different periods over 25 years prior to the closure of the SDS unit in 2008. The longest relationship lasted nine years.The relationships occurred at different periods over 25 years prior to the closure of the SDS unit in 2008. The longest relationship lasted nine years.
In their statement the women criticised the police for failing to extend their apology to the children affected by the relationships which were "hidden from the public for decades".In their statement the women criticised the police for failing to extend their apology to the children affected by the relationships which were "hidden from the public for decades".
"The police still refuse to publicly acknowledge the harm caused to the children born of and into these relationships or even bring themselves to refer to them in their apology today," they said."The police still refuse to publicly acknowledge the harm caused to the children born of and into these relationships or even bring themselves to refer to them in their apology today," they said.
'Blameless victims''Blameless victims'
Asst Comm Hewitt, who personally met the women during the mediation and settlement, said they were blameless victims who had suffered a violation of their rights, abuse of police power and significant trauma.Asst Comm Hewitt, who personally met the women during the mediation and settlement, said they were blameless victims who had suffered a violation of their rights, abuse of police power and significant trauma.
"Thanks in large part to the courage and tenacity of these women... it has become apparent that some [undercover] officers entered into long-term intimate sexual relationships which were abusive, deceitful, manipulative and wrong," he said."Thanks in large part to the courage and tenacity of these women... it has become apparent that some [undercover] officers entered into long-term intimate sexual relationships which were abusive, deceitful, manipulative and wrong," he said.
"Relationships like these should never have happened. They were wrong and were a gross violation of personal dignity and integrity."Relationships like these should never have happened. They were wrong and were a gross violation of personal dignity and integrity.
"They were deceived pure and simple. Whether or not genuine feelings were involved on the part of any officers is entirely irrelevant and does not make the conduct acceptable.""They were deceived pure and simple. Whether or not genuine feelings were involved on the part of any officers is entirely irrelevant and does not make the conduct acceptable."
Asst Comm Hewitt said that the relationships may well have reflected attitudes towards women that should have no part in police culture.Asst Comm Hewitt said that the relationships may well have reflected attitudes towards women that should have no part in police culture.
And he also admitted that there had been no proper management of the deployments, even after the introduction 15 years ago of supposedly stringent legal controls.And he also admitted that there had been no proper management of the deployments, even after the introduction 15 years ago of supposedly stringent legal controls.
"Sexual relationships between undercover police officers and members of the public should not happen," said the assistant commissioner."Sexual relationships between undercover police officers and members of the public should not happen," said the assistant commissioner.
"The forming of a sexual relationship by an undercover officer would never be authorised in advance nor indeed used as a tactic of a deployment.""The forming of a sexual relationship by an undercover officer would never be authorised in advance nor indeed used as a tactic of a deployment."
The Metropolitan Police is still facing further claims and an internal police inquiry. Separately, a judge-led public inquiry is beginning to gather evidence as to what happened within the two units.The Metropolitan Police is still facing further claims and an internal police inquiry. Separately, a judge-led public inquiry is beginning to gather evidence as to what happened within the two units.
The women said they will all work hard to ensure the public inquiry into undercover policing is "robust and transparent", and will fight "to obtain disclosure, and to have the legal framework governing undercover policing examined by the courts".The women said they will all work hard to ensure the public inquiry into undercover policing is "robust and transparent", and will fight "to obtain disclosure, and to have the legal framework governing undercover policing examined by the courts".
The seven women said they would continue to support another who is to pursue her case in court.The seven women said they would continue to support another who is to pursue her case in court.
One of the women who has settled, Helen Steel, told a press conference on Friday that information points to undercover relationships being "very widespread" so she is demanding the Met Police release more cover names.
"Secret political policing undermines social progress for justice and equality and should have no place in our society," they added."Secret political policing undermines social progress for justice and equality and should have no place in our society," they added.