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Ex-undercover officer who infiltrated political groups resigns from academic posts Ex-undercover officer who infiltrated political groups resigns from academic posts
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A university lecturer who has a controversial past infiltrating political groups as an undercover police officer has resigned from two academic posts following long-running protests from campaigners.A university lecturer who has a controversial past infiltrating political groups as an undercover police officer has resigned from two academic posts following long-running protests from campaigners.
Bob Lambert, who fathered a child with an activist before abandoning both of them, has quit his part-time posts at St Andrews and London Metropolitan universities. Campaigners had been calling for him to be dismissed, saying that his previous conduct as an undercover spy made him an unsuitable person to be teaching students.Bob Lambert, who fathered a child with an activist before abandoning both of them, has quit his part-time posts at St Andrews and London Metropolitan universities. Campaigners had been calling for him to be dismissed, saying that his previous conduct as an undercover spy made him an unsuitable person to be teaching students.
Lambert’s undercover work infiltrating animal rights and environmental groups in the 1980s was exposed in 2011 by a group of campaigners on whom he had spied. During his four-year covert mission, he had fathered a child with a campaigner and then disappeared from their lives, claiming that he had to flee abroad to escape being arrested by the police. Lambert’s covert work infiltrating animal rights and environmental groups in the 1980s was exposed in 2011 by a group of campaigners on whom he had spied. During his four-year mission, he had fathered a child with a campaigner and then disappeared from their lives, claiming that he had to flee abroad to escape being arrested by the police.
Related: When it comes to Bob Lambert, the truth is stranger than fiction | Dreda Say MitchellRelated: When it comes to Bob Lambert, the truth is stranger than fiction | Dreda Say Mitchell
The mother of his child only discovered the truth by chance in 2012, leaving her profoundly traumatised. Last year, the Metropolitan police paid her £425,000 in an out-of-court settlement. Lambert also had a 18-month relationship with another woman, Belinda Harvey, while he was undercover. The mother of his child only discovered the truth by chance in 2012, leaving her profoundly traumatised. Last year, the Metropolitan police paid her £425,000 in an out of court settlement. Lambert also had a 18-month relationship with another woman, Belinda Harvey, while he was undercover.
Last month, the Met apologised and paid substantial compensation to Harvey and six other women who had discovered they had had intimate relationships with undercover officers. The Met admitted that the relationships had been “abusive, deceitful, manipulative and wrong”.Last month, the Met apologised and paid substantial compensation to Harvey and six other women who had discovered they had had intimate relationships with undercover officers. The Met admitted that the relationships had been “abusive, deceitful, manipulative and wrong”.
As part of his undercover work, Lambert also stole the identity of a dead boy to develop his fake identity, appeared in court using this false persona, and been accused of setting fire to a branch of Debenhams - an accusation he denies. He is under investigation over his role in secret operations to collect intelligence on the family of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence.As part of his undercover work, Lambert also stole the identity of a dead boy to develop his fake identity, appeared in court using this false persona, and been accused of setting fire to a branch of Debenhams - an accusation he denies. He is under investigation over his role in secret operations to collect intelligence on the family of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence.
After leaving the police in 2007, he secured posts at three universities, but has now quit all three. In a statement, St Andrews University said: “Dr Lambert resigned from his post as a lecturer at St Andrews with effect from the end of the current term.”After leaving the police in 2007, he secured posts at three universities, but has now quit all three. In a statement, St Andrews University said: “Dr Lambert resigned from his post as a lecturer at St Andrews with effect from the end of the current term.”
This month, four activists, including Guardian journalist George Monbiot, had called for him to be sacked from his job teaching students about terrorism, saying that it was “abhorrent that a man so lacking in moral compass should be in a position where he is shaping the minds of others.” This month, four activists, including the Guardian journalist George Monbiot, had called for him to be sacked from his job lecturing students on terrorism, saying that it was “abhorrent that a man so lacking in moral compass should be in a position where he is shaping the minds of others”.
Professor Louise Richardson, the university’s principal, told its student paper, The Saint: “I think hiring people who have had real-world experience in an institution which is teaching counter-terrorism in entirely legitimate. In my position I’m not going to get involved in what people do privately whoever they are, so I think the university were legitimate to hire him and I think it has been reasonable for us to keep him.” Prof Louise Richardson, the university’s principal, told its student paper, The Saint: “I think hiring people who have had real-world experience in an institution which is teaching counter-terrorism is entirely legitimate.
The London Metropolitan University confirmed that Lambert had resigned earlier this month, adding that it would not comment as a matter of course on why he had left. The university had said he taught students about terrorism, counter-terrorism, far-right political violence and anti-Muslim hate crimes. “In my position I’m not going to get involved in what people do privately whoever they are, so I think the university were legitimate to hire him and I think it has been reasonable for us to keep him.”
Lambert had resigned from Exeter University in October 2011: the same month his undercover past was exposed. Exeter has not explained why he left. The London Metropolitan University confirmed that Lambert had resigned earlier this month, adding that it would not comment as a matter of course on why he had left.
In a statement, Lambert said: “I have resigned from my part-time teaching positions at the University of St Andrews and London Metropolitan University and would like to take this opportunity to thank management, colleagues and students at both institutions for their kindness and support. Henceforward I will pursue my academic interests in responses to terrorism and political violence as an independent researcher. I will also continue to cooperate with the investigations and inquiry into undercover policing.” The university said he taught students about terrorism, counter-terrorism, far-right political violence and anti-Muslim hate crimes. Lambert had resigned from Exeter University in October 2011: the same month his undercover past was exposed. Exeter has not explained why he left.
In a statement, Lambert said: “I have resigned from my part-time teaching positions at the University of St Andrews and London Metropolitan University and would like to take this opportunity to thank management, colleagues and students at both institutions for their kindness and support.
“Henceforward I will pursue my academic interests in responses to terrorism and political violence as an independent researcher. I will also continue to cooperate with the investigations and inquiry into undercover policing.”