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Undercover policing inquiry to open Undercover policing inquiry to open
(about 7 hours later)
A public inquiry into undercover policing in England and Wales is to be formally opened later on Tuesday.A public inquiry into undercover policing in England and Wales is to be formally opened later on Tuesday.
Chairman Lord Justice Pitchford will make a statement setting out its aims.Chairman Lord Justice Pitchford will make a statement setting out its aims.
Home Secretary Theresa May ordered the review after claims a police "spy" had infiltrated the family "camp" of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence.Home Secretary Theresa May ordered the review after claims a police "spy" had infiltrated the family "camp" of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence.
It also comes after investigations revealed officers had had relationships with women while under cover, and had used the names of dead children. It also comes after investigations revealed officers had had relationships with women while undercover, and had used the names of dead children.
Lawyers investigating allegations for the Home Office say they have uncovered more than 80 possible miscarriages of justice relating to undercover policing.Lawyers investigating allegations for the Home Office say they have uncovered more than 80 possible miscarriages of justice relating to undercover policing.
Campaigners say the inquiry must provide full disclosure of decades of work to infiltrate protest groups - including the identities of officers suspected of wrongdoing.Campaigners say the inquiry must provide full disclosure of decades of work to infiltrate protest groups - including the identities of officers suspected of wrongdoing.
Most of the allegations relate to a secret Metropolitan Police unit, the Special Demonstration Squad, that was disbanded seven years ago.Most of the allegations relate to a secret Metropolitan Police unit, the Special Demonstration Squad, that was disbanded seven years ago.
Lord Justice Pitchford's inquiry will focus on the undercover activities of the SDS and the similar National Public Order Intelligence Unit which operated across England and Wales.Lord Justice Pitchford's inquiry will focus on the undercover activities of the SDS and the similar National Public Order Intelligence Unit which operated across England and Wales.
It will investigate the extent to which officers targeted individuals and groups such as political and social justice campaigns.It will investigate the extent to which officers targeted individuals and groups such as political and social justice campaigns.
Lord Justice Pitchford's inquiry is expected to be split into three parts: establishing what happened, examining the procedures adopted by police to prevent wrongdoing, and recommendations for the future.Lord Justice Pitchford's inquiry is expected to be split into three parts: establishing what happened, examining the procedures adopted by police to prevent wrongdoing, and recommendations for the future.
The three-year inquiry's terms of reference include:The three-year inquiry's terms of reference include:
Allegations first emerged in 2011 when a former undercover officer, Mark Kennedy, offered to help defend in court six environmental campaigners whom he had infiltrated. Allegations first emerged in 2011 when a former undercover officer, Mark Kennedy, offered to help defend, in court, six environmental campaigners whom he had infiltrated.
That trial collapsed - and later the same year, there were further revelations of undercover relationships, one of which led to a child.That trial collapsed - and later the same year, there were further revelations of undercover relationships, one of which led to a child.
Some 57 convictions relating to undercover operations have been quashed. Analysis: Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent
The most politically toxic allegation so far came from an independent review that established there was an undercover Met officer acting as a "spy in the [Stephen] Lawrence family camp" when the murdered teenager's parents were campaigning against Scotland Yard failings. The allegations of wrongdoing by undercover police officers that have emerged since 2011 have been extraordinary.
That steady stream of stories has led to the launch of a major public inquiry into their activities.
The breadth and nature of what is being alleged is almost too big to grasp, but it fundamentally comes down to a simple question of whether elements of the police were out of control.
Seven key issues the inquiry will examine.
The Campaign Against Police Surveillance, a group that includes people taking legal action against forces, said: "The police may talk at length about infiltrating gangs of people traffickers and paedophiles to public acclaim, and use that glow of approval to blind people from seeing the vast, murky expanse of the counter-democratic work and personal abuse that police have been systematically engaged in.The Campaign Against Police Surveillance, a group that includes people taking legal action against forces, said: "The police may talk at length about infiltrating gangs of people traffickers and paedophiles to public acclaim, and use that glow of approval to blind people from seeing the vast, murky expanse of the counter-democratic work and personal abuse that police have been systematically engaged in.
"It it to be hoped that when Lord Justice Pitchford fleshes out his terms of reference we will see these issues addressed and his inquiry will deliver the answers that justice demands." "It is to be hoped that when Lord Justice Pitchford fleshes out his terms of reference we will see these issues addressed and his inquiry will deliver the answers that justice demands."