This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/uk-news/undercover-with-paul-lewis-and-rob-evans/2015/jul/28/judge-yet-to-decide-on-public-access-to-undercover-policing-inquiry

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Undercover policing inquiry: judge yet to decide on public access Undercover policing inquiry: judge yet to decide on public access
(about 1 hour later)
The senior judge heading a public inquiry into the undercover infiltration of political groups has yet to decide how much of the proceedings will be held in public. Undercover police officers who disclose crucial evidence to a public inquiry into the covert infiltration of political groups could be given immunity from prosecution.
On Tuesday, Lord Justice Pitchford opened the inquiry that will examine how undercover police officers have been spying on political campaigners and the public since 1968.On Tuesday, Lord Justice Pitchford opened the inquiry that will examine how undercover police officers have been spying on political campaigners and the public since 1968.
In his opening statement, Pitchford said: “It seems likely that the inquiry will expose both creditable and discreditable conduct, practice and management. This is the first time that undercover policing has been exposed to the rigour of public examination.”In his opening statement, Pitchford said: “It seems likely that the inquiry will expose both creditable and discreditable conduct, practice and management. This is the first time that undercover policing has been exposed to the rigour of public examination.”
He added that the inquiry “will need to examine any evidence of the targeting of individuals for their political views or participation in social justice campaigns.”He added that the inquiry “will need to examine any evidence of the targeting of individuals for their political views or participation in social justice campaigns.”
Pitchford raised the possibility that undercover officers who give evidence may be protected from incriminating themselves. Pitchford raised the possibility that former undercover officers “may have important evidence to give” to the inquiry that may incriminate them. He added that in such cases, he may ask the attorney general to give an undertaking that officers would not be prosecuted using that evidence.
The inquiry, which is expected to run for three years, was ordered by the home secretary, Theresa May, after revelations about the activities of police spies started to appear in 2011. The inquiry, which is expected to run for three years, was ordered by the home secretary, Theresa May, after the media and political activists revealed the activities of police spies in the last four years.
Some officers deceived female campaigners into long-term relationships and fathered children with them, gathered information on the family of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence and other grieving families, and stole the identities of dead children.Some officers deceived female campaigners into long-term relationships and fathered children with them, gathered information on the family of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence and other grieving families, and stole the identities of dead children.
Related: Relationships with undercover officers wreck lives. The lies must stop | Lisa Jones and Kate WilsonRelated: Relationships with undercover officers wreck lives. The lies must stop | Lisa Jones and Kate Wilson
The inquiry will scrutinise “the motivation for, and the scope for, undercover police operations in practice and their effect upon individuals in particular and the public in general.” It will also look at the official control of undercover operations, and how much ministers and Whitehall officials knew about them.The inquiry will scrutinise “the motivation for, and the scope for, undercover police operations in practice and their effect upon individuals in particular and the public in general.” It will also look at the official control of undercover operations, and how much ministers and Whitehall officials knew about them.
May has announced a general remit for the inquiry and Pitchford said he is drawing up a detailed list of issues.May has announced a general remit for the inquiry and Pitchford said he is drawing up a detailed list of issues.
No date has been set for the start of public hearings. However, a key decision will be how much of the evidence will be aired in the open and whether the undercover officers will be named. No date has been set for the start of public hearings. However, a key decision facing Pitchford will be how much of the evidence will be aired in the open and whether the undercover officers will be named.
Critics, including those who were spied on, say the inquiry will be a whitewash if the police are allowed to insist that officers’ identities are hidden. Doreen Lawrence, Stephen Lawrence’s mother, has called for the spies to be named. Critics, including those who were spied on, say the inquiry will be a whitewash if the police are allowed to insist that officers’ identities are hidden. Doreen Lawrence, Stephen Lawrence’s mother, is among those who have called for the spies to be named.
In his opening statement in London, Pitchford said: “This is a public inquiry to which, as the name implies, the public will have access. I will therefore start with the presumption that witnesses should give evidence in public.”In his opening statement in London, Pitchford said: “This is a public inquiry to which, as the name implies, the public will have access. I will therefore start with the presumption that witnesses should give evidence in public.”
However, he added that, given the subject matter of the inquiry, there may be circumstances when the “national interest, continuing police investigations or the rights of individual witnesses” require evidence to be kept secret.However, he added that, given the subject matter of the inquiry, there may be circumstances when the “national interest, continuing police investigations or the rights of individual witnesses” require evidence to be kept secret.
He said the inquiry may hear evidence showing that an undercover officer had committed a crime while working covertly, and that the spies may have important evidence that could incriminate themselves. In such cases, he may ask the attorney general to give an undertaking that officers would not be prosecuted using that evidence.
Pitchford said the inquiry would have three stages. The first, expected to take several months, “will investigate and gather evidence as to what has happened in the past”.Pitchford said the inquiry would have three stages. The first, expected to take several months, “will investigate and gather evidence as to what has happened in the past”.
Related: My dad, the undercover policemanRelated: My dad, the undercover policeman
A vast amount of evidence will be heard from undercover officers and “those who have been affected by their undercover work”, according to Pitchford.A vast amount of evidence will be heard from undercover officers and “those who have been affected by their undercover work”, according to Pitchford.
The inquiry will scrutinise the purpose, motive and justification of the undercover work, whether the conduct of officers fell below an acceptable standard and its value to the prevention of crime.The inquiry will scrutinise the purpose, motive and justification of the undercover work, whether the conduct of officers fell below an acceptable standard and its value to the prevention of crime.
The later stages will examine “systemic issues” such as the supervision of the covert deployments, and the welfare of the spies, as well as the lessons to be learned.The later stages will examine “systemic issues” such as the supervision of the covert deployments, and the welfare of the spies, as well as the lessons to be learned.
After the hearing, Neville Lawrence, Stephen Lawrence’s father, said: “ I hope it will get to the truth. We have waited too long without having the answers. I think that after more than 20 years since the death of my son we deserve some answers.After the hearing, Neville Lawrence, Stephen Lawrence’s father, said: “ I hope it will get to the truth. We have waited too long without having the answers. I think that after more than 20 years since the death of my son we deserve some answers.
“One of the things I am hoping to get from the inquiry is answers as to why they decided to send officers to watch a grieving family.”“One of the things I am hoping to get from the inquiry is answers as to why they decided to send officers to watch a grieving family.”
In an article in the Guardian, two women who were deceived into having long-term relationships with Mark Kennedy, the undercover spy who infiltrated environmental groups for seven years, said they “fervently hope that this inquiry will be comprehensive, honest and transparent, and that it can cut through the smokescreen and get to the truth”.In an article in the Guardian, two women who were deceived into having long-term relationships with Mark Kennedy, the undercover spy who infiltrated environmental groups for seven years, said they “fervently hope that this inquiry will be comprehensive, honest and transparent, and that it can cut through the smokescreen and get to the truth”.