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Leaked letter appears to undermine police bid for undercover secrecy Leaked letter appears to undermine police bid for undercover secrecy
(6 months later)
Next week the police are to argue that large parts of the public inquiry into the conduct of their undercover spies should be held in secret.Next week the police are to argue that large parts of the public inquiry into the conduct of their undercover spies should be held in secret.
The public inquiry - headed by a senior judge, Lord Justice Pitchford - is due to scrutinise the activities of undercover officers who have infiltrated hundreds of political groups since 1968. It was set up as a result of revelations about the undercover officers’ misconduct (see here and here).The public inquiry - headed by a senior judge, Lord Justice Pitchford - is due to scrutinise the activities of undercover officers who have infiltrated hundreds of political groups since 1968. It was set up as a result of revelations about the undercover officers’ misconduct (see here and here).
Police are to apply for legal orders to ensure that “much of the detail” of the undercover operations is examined in private by Pitchford’s inquiry (see here and here).Police are to apply for legal orders to ensure that “much of the detail” of the undercover operations is examined in private by Pitchford’s inquiry (see here and here).
Whether or not the police can successfully blanket the inquiry in secrecy is seen by many who were spied upon as the most crucial issue facing the inquiry at the moment.Whether or not the police can successfully blanket the inquiry in secrecy is seen by many who were spied upon as the most crucial issue facing the inquiry at the moment.
According to the police, such sweeping secrecy is essential, for instance, to protect the techniques of their undercover work. They also argue that isolated bits of information should remain concealed in case the public piece them together and identify covert techniques or individual spies.According to the police, such sweeping secrecy is essential, for instance, to protect the techniques of their undercover work. They also argue that isolated bits of information should remain concealed in case the public piece them together and identify covert techniques or individual spies.
However the police’s stance appears to be undermined by a leaked letter that shows how they helped the BBC to publicise the work and techniques of the undercover spies.However the police’s stance appears to be undermined by a leaked letter that shows how they helped the BBC to publicise the work and techniques of the undercover spies.
In 2002, the BBC broadcast a three-part documentary series that looked at how the police spied on political groups. (See this for the BBC’s website about the series).In 2002, the BBC broadcast a three-part documentary series that looked at how the police spied on political groups. (See this for the BBC’s website about the series).
Related: Lisa Jones, girlfriend of undercover policeman Mark Kennedy: ‘I thought I knew him better than anyone’
The letter - seen by the Guardian - discloses that the Metropolitan police was “keen to support” the documentary series and helped former officers to take part in it.The letter - seen by the Guardian - discloses that the Metropolitan police was “keen to support” the documentary series and helped former officers to take part in it.
In the series, the officers revealed details of how they developed their fake personas and operated undercover.In the series, the officers revealed details of how they developed their fake personas and operated undercover.
These techniques are known within the jargon of the covert world as their “legend building and tradecraft”. The undercover officers also disclosed the groups that they infiltrated.These techniques are known within the jargon of the covert world as their “legend building and tradecraft”. The undercover officers also disclosed the groups that they infiltrated.
The True Spies series revealed the existence of the SDS, and outlined how it operated. The three episodes can be viewed here, here and here, with transcripts here.The True Spies series revealed the existence of the SDS, and outlined how it operated. The three episodes can be viewed here, here and here, with transcripts here.
The police’s co-operation with the programme will lay themselves open to criticism that they are happy to disclose information when it suits them.The police’s co-operation with the programme will lay themselves open to criticism that they are happy to disclose information when it suits them.
In the letter, Roger Pearce, the then head of Special Branch, wrote: “The Metropolitan Police has been keen to support this project, and on the basis of firm reassurances from the programme makers that operational and personal security would not be compromised, an invitation was extended to former Special Branch officers to contribute to it in any way they thought fit.”In the letter, Roger Pearce, the then head of Special Branch, wrote: “The Metropolitan Police has been keen to support this project, and on the basis of firm reassurances from the programme makers that operational and personal security would not be compromised, an invitation was extended to former Special Branch officers to contribute to it in any way they thought fit.”
A number of former police officers were interviewed in the three-part series, including one-time members of the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), one of the undercover units that has been at the heart of the controversy over the infiltration of political groups.A number of former police officers were interviewed in the three-part series, including one-time members of the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), one of the undercover units that has been at the heart of the controversy over the infiltration of political groups.
The SDS which operated between 1968 and 2008 was run by the Metropolitan police’s Special Branch, whose tasks included monitoring political threats to the state.The SDS which operated between 1968 and 2008 was run by the Metropolitan police’s Special Branch, whose tasks included monitoring political threats to the state.
Writing to colleagues shortly before the series was broadcast in the autumn of 2002, Pearce said that he had been shown a final script and wanted to tell colleagues what was in it.Writing to colleagues shortly before the series was broadcast in the autumn of 2002, Pearce said that he had been shown a final script and wanted to tell colleagues what was in it.
He wrote that the first episode “will deal specifically with the covert methods used to combat subversion and public order from the anti-Vietnam war protests of 1968.”He wrote that the first episode “will deal specifically with the covert methods used to combat subversion and public order from the anti-Vietnam war protests of 1968.”
Pearce added: “A section of the programme will outline the formation of the SDS and a number of former SDS officers are interviewed on screen (none more recent than 1985). Legend building, tradecraft and areas of targetting are among the issues highlighted and discussed in the first programme.”Pearce added: “A section of the programme will outline the formation of the SDS and a number of former SDS officers are interviewed on screen (none more recent than 1985). Legend building, tradecraft and areas of targetting are among the issues highlighted and discussed in the first programme.”
The former SDS officers were interviewed with their faces obscured, using pseudonyms :The former SDS officers were interviewed with their faces obscured, using pseudonyms :
The handler of an SDS officer was interviewed without any disguise. Wilf Knight described how the SDS spied on anti-apartheid campaigners, and disclosed the real name of the SDS officer, Mike Ferguson (see this for more details of his deployment).The handler of an SDS officer was interviewed without any disguise. Wilf Knight described how the SDS spied on anti-apartheid campaigners, and disclosed the real name of the SDS officer, Mike Ferguson (see this for more details of his deployment).
Related: Police spied on anti-apartheid campaigners for decades | Guardian Undercover Blog
In his letter, Pearce concluded :”I remain convinced that the overall message from the programmes will be enormously to the credit of those who served in Special Branch over the past four decades.”In his letter, Pearce concluded :”I remain convinced that the overall message from the programmes will be enormously to the credit of those who served in Special Branch over the past four decades.”
One Special Branch source has suggested that the police co-operated with the BBC in order to promote the work of Special Branch at a time of possible cuts to its budget. Another Special Branch source has suggested that police was forced to co-operate with the BBC after the journalists discovered the existence and operations of the SDS.One Special Branch source has suggested that the police co-operated with the BBC in order to promote the work of Special Branch at a time of possible cuts to its budget. Another Special Branch source has suggested that police was forced to co-operate with the BBC after the journalists discovered the existence and operations of the SDS.
In a two-day hearing scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, Pitchford will hear arguments about how much of his inquiry should be held in public. He is due to publish his rulings at a later date.In a two-day hearing scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, Pitchford will hear arguments about how much of his inquiry should be held in public. He is due to publish his rulings at a later date.
Those who were spied on will challenge the police’s attempt to hold the large portions of the inquiry in private - read their submission here.Those who were spied on will challenge the police’s attempt to hold the large portions of the inquiry in private - read their submission here.
The media is calling for openness. Their submission - which can be read here - has been made by the Guardian, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, BBC, the Independent, Sky, the Times and the Sunday Times.The media is calling for openness. Their submission - which can be read here - has been made by the Guardian, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, BBC, the Independent, Sky, the Times and the Sunday Times.
This piece on next week’s hearing - by trainee solicitor Kate Thomas on the Justice Gap website - is worth reading.This piece on next week’s hearing - by trainee solicitor Kate Thomas on the Justice Gap website - is worth reading.