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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/20/police-spies-state-sponsored-abuse
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| Police spies and state-sponsored abuse | Police spies and state-sponsored abuse |
| (7 days later) | |
| Last week's ruling in the high court (Judge: we all know spies sleep with targets, just like Bond, 18 January) provided a rather minor victory for the women who claim they were deceived into forming relationships with police spies. While I am pleased the ruling means common law claims can be heard in open court, I find it outrageous that those charges under the Human Rights Act will be heard in secret. If justice is to be done and seen to be done then it cannot happen behind closed doors. | Last week's ruling in the high court (Judge: we all know spies sleep with targets, just like Bond, 18 January) provided a rather minor victory for the women who claim they were deceived into forming relationships with police spies. While I am pleased the ruling means common law claims can be heard in open court, I find it outrageous that those charges under the Human Rights Act will be heard in secret. If justice is to be done and seen to be done then it cannot happen behind closed doors. |
| The Metropolitan police paid no regard for the privacy or dignity of these women when their officers infiltrated their lives and homes and families. How can the women – not to mention the public – have confidence in a system they are not even allowed to participate in? The secrecy of this case is a stain on the already battered reputation of the Metropolitan police. The mayor of London should act to restore trust in the police and instruct the Met to apologise to these women, rather than wasting more time and money on an expensive court case. The mayor should also make clear to the Met that undercover officers engaging in sexual relationships with the people they are spying on is never acceptable and is something he is not willing to condone. Jenny Jones AM Green Party group, London assembly | The Metropolitan police paid no regard for the privacy or dignity of these women when their officers infiltrated their lives and homes and families. How can the women – not to mention the public – have confidence in a system they are not even allowed to participate in? The secrecy of this case is a stain on the already battered reputation of the Metropolitan police. The mayor of London should act to restore trust in the police and instruct the Met to apologise to these women, rather than wasting more time and money on an expensive court case. The mayor should also make clear to the Met that undercover officers engaging in sexual relationships with the people they are spying on is never acceptable and is something he is not willing to condone. Jenny Jones AM Green Party group, London assembly |
| • Twenty years ago it appears that a blind eye was turned to abuse by Jimmy Savile and other paedophiles because their victims were marginalised and seen as not worthy of consideration. Jonathan Freedland's article (James Bond is fiction, not a police instruction manual, 19 January) clearly indicated the abuse conducted by undercover police and its continuing impact. Are we now in danger of sweeping this state-sponsored abuse under the carpet for umpteen years while the victims suffer and the abuse continues? JD Budden Exmouth, Devon | • Twenty years ago it appears that a blind eye was turned to abuse by Jimmy Savile and other paedophiles because their victims were marginalised and seen as not worthy of consideration. Jonathan Freedland's article (James Bond is fiction, not a police instruction manual, 19 January) clearly indicated the abuse conducted by undercover police and its continuing impact. Are we now in danger of sweeping this state-sponsored abuse under the carpet for umpteen years while the victims suffer and the abuse continues? JD Budden Exmouth, Devon |
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