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Police chiefs running covert operations accused of victimising officers Police chiefs running covert operations accused of victimising officers
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An official watchdog is investigating allegations that senior police chiefs running top-secret covert operations victimised three lower-ranking officers who challenged their competence and conduct.An official watchdog is investigating allegations that senior police chiefs running top-secret covert operations victimised three lower-ranking officers who challenged their competence and conduct.
Two of the lower-ranking officers, who also say they were subjected to racial discrimination, have started legal action against the Metropolitan police.Two of the lower-ranking officers, who also say they were subjected to racial discrimination, have started legal action against the Metropolitan police.
One of them outlined his allegations in a confidential memo – seen by the Guardian – that he sent to Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Met commissioner.One of them outlined his allegations in a confidential memo – seen by the Guardian – that he sent to Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Met commissioner.
He accused his higher-ranking superiors of jeopardising the safety of an undercover officer, mismanagement, poor decision-making and procrastination.He accused his higher-ranking superiors of jeopardising the safety of an undercover officer, mismanagement, poor decision-making and procrastination.
He claimed he had come under “concerted attack” after he “openly challenged the decisions of senior officers and highlighted wrongdoing”.He claimed he had come under “concerted attack” after he “openly challenged the decisions of senior officers and highlighted wrongdoing”.
He said he had been “victimised, threatened and discriminated against by senior police officers seeking to do nothing more than conceal their incompetence and wrongdoing”.He said he had been “victimised, threatened and discriminated against by senior police officers seeking to do nothing more than conceal their incompetence and wrongdoing”.
He alleged that he was “one in a line of non-white” officers working in the Met’s covert operations “who have been targeted by senior officers in recent times”.He alleged that he was “one in a line of non-white” officers working in the Met’s covert operations “who have been targeted by senior officers in recent times”.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission said its investigation into the allegations was in its initial stages and had taken statements from the trio. The Independent Police Complaints Commission said its investigation into the allegations was in its initial stages and it had taken statements from the trio.
The confidential memo to Hogan-Howe was written last year by one of the three – a detective chief inspector who said he had been deployed on and managed the Met’s most sensitive undercover operations.The confidential memo to Hogan-Howe was written last year by one of the three – a detective chief inspector who said he had been deployed on and managed the Met’s most sensitive undercover operations.
The DCI, who said he has worked as a highly trained undercover officer, wrote that he was the only non-white member of the national body of officers overseeing covert operations.The DCI, who said he has worked as a highly trained undercover officer, wrote that he was the only non-white member of the national body of officers overseeing covert operations.
One of his complaints related to an operation in which a Met undercover officer was lent in 2013 to a covert unit run by five police forces in eastern England. One of his complaints related to an operation in which a Met undercover officer was lent in 2013 to a covert unit run by five police forces in eastern England. According to the DCI, the operation was “utterly mismanaged”, putting the undercover officer at “unacceptable risk”.
According to the DCI, the operation was “utterly mismanaged”, putting the undercover officer at “unacceptable risk”. The DCI recommended that the officer be withdrawn from the operation until the issues were resolved, he said. He added that the undercover officer agreed, as he believed that continuing the deployment placed himself and potentially his family at undue risk.
The DCI recommended that the officer be withdrawn from the operation until the issues were resolved, he said.
He added that the undercover officer agreed, as he believed that continuing the deployment placed himself and potentially his family at undue risk.
However the DCI alleged that senior officers accused him and the undercover officer of lying when they said the undercover officer wanted to suspend his deployment. This accusation was later withdrawn, according to the DCI.However the DCI alleged that senior officers accused him and the undercover officer of lying when they said the undercover officer wanted to suspend his deployment. This accusation was later withdrawn, according to the DCI.
A second allegation concerns an officer in an undercover unit who volunteered to superiors that he had discovered that his son had been a school-friend of a known criminal’s son. The DCI alleged that this resulted in “an irrational and utterly unjustifiable campaign” by senior officers to remove the officer from the unit.A second allegation concerns an officer in an undercover unit who volunteered to superiors that he had discovered that his son had been a school-friend of a known criminal’s son. The DCI alleged that this resulted in “an irrational and utterly unjustifiable campaign” by senior officers to remove the officer from the unit.
The DCI criticised the “the catalogue of poor decision-making and indecision at a senior level which resulted in such trauma being inflicted on a good, hard-working and competent officer and his family.” No evidence of corruption was found, the DCI said. The DCI criticised the “catalogue of poor decision-making and indecision at a senior level which resulted in such trauma being inflicted on a good, hard-working and competent officer and his family”. No evidence of corruption was found, the DCI said.
In a third allegation, the DCI cited “yet another example of poor judgement and risk management” when another member of the undercover unit was accused of taking illegal drugs. In a third allegation, the DCI cited “yet another example of poor judgment and risk management” when another member of the undercover unit was accused of taking illegal drugs. In what the DCI called “an unfair and unmerited targeting”, the officer was humiliated on the basis of “totally uncorroborated” and “malicious intelligence” before being exonerated.
In what the DCI called “an unfair and unmerited targeting”, the officer was humiliated on the basis of “totally uncorroborated” and “malicious intelligence” before being exonerated.
The “tipping point” for the DCI came, he alleged, when he was asked to attend a meeting with a senior officer about staff recruitment. However he alleged that at the meeting he was ambushed as he was told that senior officers were investigating his integrity over three issues.The “tipping point” for the DCI came, he alleged, when he was asked to attend a meeting with a senior officer about staff recruitment. However he alleged that at the meeting he was ambushed as he was told that senior officers were investigating his integrity over three issues.
He said these were “vindictive nonsense” and exemplified “the way in which senior officers in the Metropolitan police and beyond have tried a variety of underhand tactics to discredit me, besmirch my character, damage my career and my reputation and drive me to the point of sickness”.He said these were “vindictive nonsense” and exemplified “the way in which senior officers in the Metropolitan police and beyond have tried a variety of underhand tactics to discredit me, besmirch my character, damage my career and my reputation and drive me to the point of sickness”.
The DCI and a colleague from the undercover unit initiated their claim alleging victimisation and racial discrimination at an employment tribunal in London this year and have been granted anonymity in the legal action.The DCI and a colleague from the undercover unit initiated their claim alleging victimisation and racial discrimination at an employment tribunal in London this year and have been granted anonymity in the legal action.
The Met said: “We made a referral to the IPCC who are carrying out an independent investigation. We are aware that employment tribunal claims have been lodged. The proceedings are ongoing and therefore we will not comment upon these matters any further at this stage.”The Met said: “We made a referral to the IPCC who are carrying out an independent investigation. We are aware that employment tribunal claims have been lodged. The proceedings are ongoing and therefore we will not comment upon these matters any further at this stage.”
IPCC said the allegations also “concern the actions of a Bedfordshire police officer and therefore a separate referral has been received from that force in respect of this aspect.” IPCC said the allegations also “concern the actions of a Bedfordshire police officer and therefore a separate referral has been received from that force in respect of this aspect”.
The dispute is the latest controversy to hit the secretive world of undercover policing following revelations about police spies who infiltrated political campaigns. The dispute is the latest controversy in undercover policing following revelations about police spies who infiltrated political campaigns.
The DCI also raised with senior officers his concerns about the College of Policing, the official body recently given responsibility for improving the ethics and standards of undercover policing. The DCI also raised with senior officers his concerns about the College of Policing, the official body recently given responsibility for improving the ethics and standards of undercover operations.
The DCI alleged that “many of the changes to selection, training and support are deficient, counter-productive to better governance,” and will fail to reassure the public that undercover policing had been improved. The DCI alleged that “many of the changes to selection, training and support are deficient, counterproductive to better governance”, and will fail to reassure the public that undercover policing had been improved.
He further alleged that many of the officers implementing the changes, which he said were “completely without structure and substance”, had “little and often no” experience of covert policing “which in this area can be very dangerous to all involved”.He further alleged that many of the officers implementing the changes, which he said were “completely without structure and substance”, had “little and often no” experience of covert policing “which in this area can be very dangerous to all involved”.
The college said that “for legal and security reasons” it could not comment.The college said that “for legal and security reasons” it could not comment.
The home secretary, Theresa May, set up a public inquiry to examine the conduct of undercover officers since 1968 after it was revealed that some had formed long-term relationships with female campaigners, stole the identities of dead children, and concealed vital evidence in court cases.The home secretary, Theresa May, set up a public inquiry to examine the conduct of undercover officers since 1968 after it was revealed that some had formed long-term relationships with female campaigners, stole the identities of dead children, and concealed vital evidence in court cases.
The DCI has accused senior officers of organising “an orchestrated plan to silence me and thereby protect themselves from any criticism” at the public inquiry. He said “misguided relationships” between the senior officers has appeared to have caused “a loss of objectivity on their part”.The DCI has accused senior officers of organising “an orchestrated plan to silence me and thereby protect themselves from any criticism” at the public inquiry. He said “misguided relationships” between the senior officers has appeared to have caused “a loss of objectivity on their part”.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary last year highlighted the “generally poor knowledge and lack of expertise of senior officers” in control of covert missions.Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary last year highlighted the “generally poor knowledge and lack of expertise of senior officers” in control of covert missions.