This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26484977

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Jailed activists to appeal over undercover police involvement Jailed activists to appeal over undercover police involvement
(about 1 hour later)
Two animal rights activists jailed for firebombing department stores are to appeal against their convictions due to the involvement of undercover police.Two animal rights activists jailed for firebombing department stores are to appeal against their convictions due to the involvement of undercover police.
Andrew Clarke and Geoff Sheppard were convicted of planting incendiary devices at Debenhams stores in Romford and Luton in 1987.Andrew Clarke and Geoff Sheppard were convicted of planting incendiary devices at Debenhams stores in Romford and Luton in 1987.
An undercover police officer allegedly planted a third device at a branch in Harrow to help convict the men.An undercover police officer allegedly planted a third device at a branch in Harrow to help convict the men.
The officer has denied this and said he would not have committed such a crime.The officer has denied this and said he would not have committed such a crime.
Mr Clarke and Mr Sheppard, who were members of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), have claimed they were victims of a miscarriage of justice.Mr Clarke and Mr Sheppard, who were members of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), have claimed they were victims of a miscarriage of justice.
They were convicted over the attacks in Luton and Romford, which it was claimed were staged by members of the animal rights group to stop Debenhams selling fur.They were convicted over the attacks in Luton and Romford, which it was claimed were staged by members of the animal rights group to stop Debenhams selling fur.
Mr Clarke was sentenced to more than three years in prison in June 1988, and Mr Sheppard to four years and four months.
In June 2012, Caroline Lucas MP used parliamentary privilege to name Bob Lambert as the undercover police officer who allegedly planted a bomb at the third department store.In June 2012, Caroline Lucas MP used parliamentary privilege to name Bob Lambert as the undercover police officer who allegedly planted a bomb at the third department store.
Mr Lambert has admitted to infiltrating the ALF. At the time he was a senior officer in the Special Demonstrations Squad (SDS), the same undercover unit which infiltrated the Stephen Lawrence campaign.Mr Lambert has admitted to infiltrating the ALF. At the time he was a senior officer in the Special Demonstrations Squad (SDS), the same undercover unit which infiltrated the Stephen Lawrence campaign.
'Miscarriage of justice''Miscarriage of justice'
The jailed men's appeal to have their convictions quashed comes after Home Secretary Theresa May asked Mark Ellison QC on Thursday to identify specific cases where the actions of undercover officers may have caused miscarriages of justice.The jailed men's appeal to have their convictions quashed comes after Home Secretary Theresa May asked Mark Ellison QC on Thursday to identify specific cases where the actions of undercover officers may have caused miscarriages of justice.
It is not known if Mr Ellison, who wrote a damning report on the original police investigation into the Stephen Lawrence murder, has identified the ALF activists as one such case.It is not known if Mr Ellison, who wrote a damning report on the original police investigation into the Stephen Lawrence murder, has identified the ALF activists as one such case.
Mike Schwarz, who represents Mr Clarke and Mr Sheppard, said it appeared a miscarriage of justice had taken place.Mike Schwarz, who represents Mr Clarke and Mr Sheppard, said it appeared a miscarriage of justice had taken place.
"However, despite repeated representations, successive senior prosecutors have ignored or dismissed our representations," Mr Schwarz said."However, despite repeated representations, successive senior prosecutors have ignored or dismissed our representations," Mr Schwarz said.
"In the light of the announcement by the home secretary, Mark Ellison QC and Operation Herne on March 6th, we plan to renew those representations and, in the absence of the co-operation of the Crown Prosecution Service, start appeals on behalf of our clients.""In the light of the announcement by the home secretary, Mark Ellison QC and Operation Herne on March 6th, we plan to renew those representations and, in the absence of the co-operation of the Crown Prosecution Service, start appeals on behalf of our clients."
Operation Herne is the name of the investigation by Derbyshire Chief Constable Mick Creedon into the use of undercover officers by the former Special Demonstration Squad.Operation Herne is the name of the investigation by Derbyshire Chief Constable Mick Creedon into the use of undercover officers by the former Special Demonstration Squad.
Mr Schwarz said there was "some evidence" to suggest that an SDS officer played a "key role" before, during and after the events that led to his clients' convictions.Mr Schwarz said there was "some evidence" to suggest that an SDS officer played a "key role" before, during and after the events that led to his clients' convictions.
"The case raises deep concerns not just that my clients spent a long time in prison when they should not have done so, but also, more broadly, about questionable undercover police practices over the last decades," Mr Schwarz added."The case raises deep concerns not just that my clients spent a long time in prison when they should not have done so, but also, more broadly, about questionable undercover police practices over the last decades," Mr Schwarz added.
"It is hoped that the police will finally be open about and account for its actions.""It is hoped that the police will finally be open about and account for its actions."
When allegations about Mr Lambert were made in 2012, he said: "It was necessary to create the false impression that I was a committed animal rights extremist to gain intelligence so as to disrupt serious criminal conspiracies.When allegations about Mr Lambert were made in 2012, he said: "It was necessary to create the false impression that I was a committed animal rights extremist to gain intelligence so as to disrupt serious criminal conspiracies.
"However, I did not commit serious crime such as 'planting an incendiary device at the Harrow store'.""However, I did not commit serious crime such as 'planting an incendiary device at the Harrow store'."
Approached for comment on Friday, he told the BBC he had nothing further to add.Approached for comment on Friday, he told the BBC he had nothing further to add.
The home secretary announced on Thursday that were would be a review to determine whether decades of secretive undercover police work had led to any miscarriages of justice.The home secretary announced on Thursday that were would be a review to determine whether decades of secretive undercover police work had led to any miscarriages of justice.
The top-secret SDS was in existence for nearly 40 years, during which time police moles infiltrated hundreds of protest groups.The top-secret SDS was in existence for nearly 40 years, during which time police moles infiltrated hundreds of protest groups.