Final day of evidential hearings in Tranche 1, Phase 1. Miss Campbell summarizes written evidence from four SDS officers who served between 1968-1974, detailing their recruitment, deployments against left-wing and anarchist groups, operational methods, and the lack of formal training and welfare support during this early period of undercover policing.
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00:15:05 good morning everyone and welcome to the final day of evidential hearings in tranch one phase one at the undercover policing inquiry my name is Jacqueline
00:15:18 policing inquiry my name is Jacqueline perser and I'm the hearings manager as a reminder to those of you in the virtual hearing room please turn off both your camera and microphone unless you are
00:15:28 camera and microphone unless you are invited to speak by the chairman I will now hand over to our chairman Sir John mitting to formally start proceedings chairman thank you for the next 25 minutes or so miss Campbell is going to summarize the evidence of a number of officers who are not being called to
00:15:40 officers who are not being called to give live evidence we will then have a 10-minute break and resume our evidential hearings Miss Campbell thank you sir I'll begin with the summary of hn
00:15:55 333 hn 333 served on the SDS for 9 months from late 1968 to 1969 he has cooperated with the inquiry to provide a written witness statement there is a restriction order
00:16:07 statement there is a restriction order in force preventing the publication of both the real and cover names of this officer in light of this the specific group targeted by this officer has also not been
00:16:16 not been published prior to joining the SDS hn 333 worked in special Branch while in special Branch he attended the 27th of October 1968 grovesner Square
00:16:27 October 1968 grovesner Square demonstration as a plain close officer sent to mingle with the crowds and help establish the intention of activists on the
00:16:41 the day hn 333 states that he had not worked in an undercover identity prior to joining the
00:16:48 SDS hn 333 was recruited to the SDS subsequent to the October demonstration he States in his witness statement that the subject was first proposed informally by more senior
00:17:00 proposed informally by more senior colleagues although he cannot recall who at the time there was talk within special branch of the need for improved intelligence to help assess future protest and unrest there was no formal joining process for the
00:17:16 SDS hn 333 describes his cover background as quote rudimentary he adopted a cover name cover employment and lived in cover accommodation unusually for officers at the time hn 333 states that he spent
00:17:33 the time hn 333 states that he spent most evenings at his cover address he was single when he joined the SDS hn 333 was deployed against a left-wing group that no longer
00:17:45 left-wing group that no longer exists he found this group by answering a public advertisement that had been suggested to him by someone in SDS management he would provide verbal reports on the group's activities most often during regular meetings at the SDS Safe
00:18:02 Safe House hn33 3 did not assume any roles of responsibility within the group and describes it as a loose Association his tasking did not change during his deployment hn3 i3's deployment was interrupted by illness causing him to
00:18:15 interrupted by illness causing him to pause his undercover duties for a few weeks he States in his witness statement that he believes that this made his deployment less
00:18:27 deployment less effective ultimately it was decided to withdraw this officer due to health reasons the withdrawal was planned and hn 333 states that he was able to give his excuses to the to his Target group
00:18:39 his excuses to the to his Target group although he cannot remember the specific reason he
00:18:41 reason he gave following withdrawal hn 333 undertook several training courses and ultimately returned to special branch in an unrelated
00:18:53 an unrelated field he recalls undertaking a written debrief following deployment which addressed welfare issues in General hn 333 describes the welfare Arrangements at the time as quote ad hoc but
00:19:12 effective there is no evidence to suggest that hn 333 used the name of a deceased child engaged in sexual activity or formed any close personal relationships while in his cover identity so that concludes the summary for hn 333 I will now move on to hn 339
00:19:35 hn 339 served on the SDS from 1970 to 1971 using the cover name Stuart Goodman there is a restriction order in force preventing the publication of the real name of this
00:19:49 real name of this officer hn 339 joined special branch in the late
00:19:53 the late 1960s he dealt with special Branch inquiries before being tasked to investigate the campaign against racial discrimination hn 339 States in his witness statement that during this time he did attend
00:20:07 that during this time he did attend meetings of the activist group but never in an undercover identity hn 339 held the rank of detective Sergeant when he was approached to join the
00:20:21 approached to join the SDS the earliest reporting from this officer held by the inquiry is from early October 1970 however a memorandum concerning SDS expenditure indicates that hn 339 was
00:20:32 expenditure indicates that hn 339 was renting a cover flat from at least April of that
00:20:38 of that year hn 339 was married when he joined the
00:20:41 the SDS no managers discussed the effect his recruitment might have with his spouse hn 339 adopted the cover identity of an unemployed musician and as such had no cover
00:21:00 had no cover employment he rented a cover flat in the stram area but only stayed overnight occasionally hn 339 States in his witness statement that he was originally directed to infiltrate the anti-apartheid
00:21:14 anti-apartheid movement early reporting held by the inquiry shows that hn 339 reported largely on the activities of the dambusters mobilization committee a sister group to the anti-ar movement aimed at protesting the construction of of the kahora basa Dam intended to
00:21:26 of the kahora basa Dam intended to supply electricity to South Africa he appears to have remained in this group until February 1971 reporting on planned protest
00:21:38 1971 reporting on planned protest activities hn 339 also reported during this time on an upcoming conference by the anti-ar movement where Michael Barnes MP was due to
00:21:53 Barnes MP was due to speak H1 339 was subsequently directed to infiltrate the international socialists he replied to a newspaper advert from the group seeking volunteers and started attending meetings of the lambath branch from late February
00:22:09 lambath branch from late February 1971 eventually he was appointed to the role of Branch Treasurer hn 339 recalls in his witness statement that this brought him close to the branch secretary at the time and
00:22:22 the branch secretary at the time and describes himself as quote effectively his right-hand man the inquiry holds reporting from hn3 339 on the international socialist from February to November
00:22:38 February to November 1971 during this time he reported on a mix of public and private meetings including the 1971 is Easter Conference and the annual is Rally in skeg NES much of his later reporting deals
00:22:53 NES much of his later reporting deals with an internal party Rift that arose between the main leadership of the international socialists and members of the so-called Trotsky tendency coverage of this particular issue was continued by hn 343 John
00:23:09 issue was continued by hn 343 John Clinton from within is after hn 339 reporting
00:23:16 reporting ends hn 339 recalls being involved in some fly posting while in his cover identity but no other criminal
00:23:30 identity but no other criminal activity near the end of his deployment hn 339 was involved in a road traffic accident while driving an unmarked police car which necessitated the involvement of his super of his supervisors on the SDS hn 339 states that he does not remember much about his withdrawal from the field but suspects that this event
00:23:43 the field but suspects that this event may have been a catalyst for the end of his
00:23:44 his deployment there is no evidence to suggest that hn 339 used the name of a deceased child or engaged in sexual activity while inis discover
00:23:56 activity while inis discover identity so that concludes the summary for hn 339 I'll move move on to hn
00:24:07 349 hn 349 joined the SDS in the early 1970s he was in the squad for approximately one year targeting Anarchist groups in Central London there is a restriction order in
00:24:18 London there is a restriction order in force pres preventing the publication of both the real and cover names of this officer in light of this the specific groups targeted by this officer have also not been published
00:24:29 also not been published the inquiry has no contemporaneous reporting from hn 349 deployment however he has cooperated with the inquiry to provide a written witness
00:24:43 provide a written witness statement hn 349 joined the SDS after a relatively short time on special Branch he was recruited after meeting with an undercover officer who explained the nature of the role there was no formal
00:24:55 formal training hn 349 spent some time in the SDS back office before deployment where he was able to read reports and gain a feel for the information that was
00:25:11 feel for the information that was collected during this time he also met on two or three occasions with active uos in the SDS cover flat hn 349 was married when he joined the
00:25:18 the SDS no managers spoke to his wife or discussed the impact that a deployment might have on his family life at the start of his deployment hn
00:25:32 life at the start of his deployment hn 349 was not asked to Target a particular group he was simply tasked with attending any demonstrations taking place in Central London and getting to know the regular activists ultimately he was tasked with
00:25:44 activists ultimately he was tasked with attempting to get involved with various Loos knit Anarchist groups hn 349 describes his cover identity as being not as quote developed as that of his
00:25:58 as that of his colleagues he had a cover name and a cover flat though he never actually slept there he did not have a cover employer hn3 49's deployment was ultimately
00:26:10 ultimately unsuccessful he describes in his witness statement how he was unable to strike up any real relationships with the activists in his group or gain their
00:26:23 activists in his group or gain their trust as they were highly suspicious of strangers approximately 9 months into his deployment hn 349 met with his managers and the decision was made to withdraw him from the field no method of exfiltration was
00:26:36 field no method of exfiltration was required as hn 349 had not managed to sufficiently assimilate within his group after his withdrawal hn 349 spent some time again in the SDS back office before ultimately returning to special
00:26:48 before ultimately returning to special Branch while working in special Branch hn 349 did work with intelligence that was gathered by the SDS although that material would not have been specifically identified as
00:27:00 specifically identified as such he States in his witness statement that after some time most special Branch
00:27:11 that after some time most special Branch officers were quote aware of the SDS and had an idea of the kinds of groups that they had infiltrated end quote hn 349 also states that he would have occasionally made requests for
00:27:22 have occasionally made requests for specific information from the SDS while in special Branch there is no evidence to suggest that hn 349 used the name of a deceased child engaged in sexual activity or
00:27:35 child engaged in sexual activity or formed any close personal relationships while in his cover identity so that concludes the summary for hn 349 I'll now move on to my final summary for hn
00:27:56 343 hn 343 served on the SDS from early 1971 to September 1974 using the cover name John Clinton he infiltrated the international socialists the is in particular the Hammersmith and Fulham Branch there is a restriction order in
00:28:10 Branch there is a restriction order in force preventing the publication of the real name of this officer he has cooperated with the inquiry to provide a written witness statement hn 343 joined special branch in the late 1960s a process which he
00:28:23 in the late 1960s a process which he remembers in his witness statement as involving quote lots of interview and test
00:28:33 test ing hn 343 states that during this time he would attend public meetings of various groups of interest to special Branch as was common practice and would give a fake name if asked he had not
00:28:45 give a fake name if asked he had not however worked in a formal undercover identity before joining the
00:28:56 identity before joining the SDS he states that he was not aware of the SDS before joining but that there were quote vague Whispers in special branch of the existence of a secret unit hn 343 joined the SDS in early 1971 after being approached by the Chief Inspector at the time Phil
00:29:08 Inspector at the time Phil Saunders there was no formal training provided he was single at the time of joining the SDS and no one spoke to him or his family about the potential impact
00:29:21 or his family about the potential impact that an undercover deployment might have on him
00:29:25 personally shortly after joining the unit hn 343 fell ill causing a delay of several months in his preparation for deployment hn 343 also recalls spending
00:29:43 deployment hn 343 also recalls spending spending three to four months in the SDS back office prior to deployment reading reports and quote getting up to speed with the political landscape hn 343 describes his undercover Legend as basic and without any elaborate
00:29:56 any elaborate detail he adopted the cover named John Clinton and gave his his cover employment is that of a van driver which he States was chosen as it would have provided an excuse if members of his group saw him in an unexpected area of
00:30:08 group saw him in an unexpected area of London he rented cover accommodation in the Fulham area and was provided with a cover
00:30:15 cover vehicle although he cannot remember any details hn 343 states that he would have discussed his cover name and Legend with his managers before being
00:30:26 his managers before being deployed hn3 43 was tasked by his managers to infiltrate the international socialists the earliest reporting from
00:30:37 socialists the earliest reporting from this officer held by the inquiry dates from October 1971 although the majority of the reporting from this officer held by the inquiry from between October 1971 and
00:30:51 inquiry from between October 1971 and March 1972 relates to the cin branch of the is hn 343 has explained in his witness statement that this is likely
00:31:02 witness statement that this is likely due to the held documents not reflecting the totality of his reporting during this
00:31:03 this period hm 343 states that he began his deployment by attending various meetings and demonstrations of the is across
00:31:16 and demonstrations of the is across London before ultimately focusing on the Hammersmith and Fulham Branch he chose this Branch because there was quote a lot of Irish activity discussed end quote a subject that he
00:31:30 discussed end quote a subject that he knew would be of great interest to the MPS hn 343 notes that it was easy to join the is as the group was Keen for members while in his cover identity hn
00:31:44 members while in his cover identity hn 343 states that he deliberately avoided forming any close relationships and cultivated the Persona of someone who was unreliable and a bit flaky to avoid being given any responsibility within the
00:32:05 group hn 343 states that he understood the SDS to be interested in both issues of public order and counter subversion at the time of his deployment hn 343 notes that at the time the is was quote a large group that would attend lots of demonstrations end
00:32:20 would attend lots of demonstrations end quote and were a quote trotus subversive group with links into Irish groups end
00:32:31 group with links into Irish groups end quote although violence was witnessed at these defense hn 343 states that it would quote rarely come from come directly from is members end quote but rather a minority of other groups hn 343 likewise states that he
00:32:43 groups hn 343 likewise states that he did consider the group to be subversive explaining that quote is were constantly
00:32:56 explaining that quote is were constantly trying to exploit whatever industrial or political situation that existed in the aim of getting the proletariat to rise up
00:33:02 hn 343 attended a wide range of events both both public and private ranging from very small meetings attended by a handful of people to very large events attended by thousands his reporting provides
00:33:14 thousands his reporting provides significant coverage of the internal affairs of the is including elections and appointments made campaigns and talks
00:33:23 talks recruitment preparations for the 1972 annual conference and the split with the trotsky's tendency an internal Rift previously covered by hn
00:33:42 previously covered by hn 339 hn 343's reporting also touches upon union membership and Industrial action taken by members of the is hn 343 himself was not a member of a trade
00:33:49 trade Union there is also coverage in the reporting of is involvement in numerous campaigns supported by the group including Irish matters women's
00:34:01 including Irish matters women's Liberation tenants rights and the anti- aparte
00:34:07 movement hn 343 States in his witness statement that he had considerable discretion as to what he reported on during his deployment however he would have been Guided by what he knew would
00:34:18 have been Guided by what he knew would have been of interest to spe to special Branch at the time his General tasking and ongoing updates from his deployment would have been discussed regularly with his manag managers Chief Inspector Saunders or
00:34:33 managers Chief Inspector Saunders or detective inspector hn 294 at weekly meetings in the SDS Safe
00:34:41 House hn 343's personnel file suggests that he left the SDS in September 1974 although the inquiry only holds reporting from this officer up to December
00:34:56 1973 hn 343 states that he that he made the decision that his deployment should end as he had had enough of the life of an undercover officer his managers were supportive of this
00:35:06 this decision hn 343 undertook what he describes as a phased withdrawal from his group telling members that he was going
00:35:19 going traveling hn 343 does not recall any formal de breath following his withdrawal he was not offered any post- deployment support hn 343 states that his time as
00:35:36 support hn 343 states that his time as an undercover officer definitely changed him as a person end quot although he states that he has not had any psychological issues as a result he describes himself as a very as very private in his personal affairs something he attributes to his
00:35:52 something he attributes to his deployment hn 343 was posted to special Branch C squad for a few months in the late
00:35:53 late 1980s in his witness statement he notes that he would have received intelligence from the SDS in this role but it would be sanitized and not identifiable as
00:36:09 be sanitized and not identifiable as such he would not have known at the time what the unit was doing or which groups were currently infiltrated hn 343 retired from the MPS after 30 years service there is no
00:36:20 after 30 years service there is no evidence to suggest that hn 343 used the name of a deceased child engaged in sexual activity or formed any close personal relationships while in his cover
00:36:29 cover identity so that concludes summary for
00:36:40 identity so that concludes summary for those officers in addition to publishing the uh documents and witness statements relating to those officers the inquiry today will be publishing um as well documents in relation to five former members of the SDS who have not provided witness
00:36:49 witness statements they are firstly hn 346 real name Jill Mell cover name
00:36:58 name unknown who reported on the groups stopped the 70 tour the anti-ap partide movement and related groups the inquiry analysis of those
00:37:17 groups the inquiry analysis of those documents can be found at page 136 to 138 of appendix 2 of council to the inquiry's written opening statement secondly documents will be published for hn
00:37:33 published for hn 338 real name restricted did Cover name unknown who reported on the groups the Vietnam solidarity campaign the international Marxist group in particular the Notting Hill and West London branches and the anti- internment
00:37:44 London branches and the anti- internment League our analysis can be found at page 161 to
00:37:46 161 to 166 of our written opening statement thirdly documents will be published for hn1 1251 371
00:37:57 1251 371 real name Phil Saunders cover name if any is unknown who was a detective inspector in the
00:38:08 who was a detective inspector in the SDS our analysis can be found at page 180 to
00:38:13 180 to 183 of council to the inquiries written opening statement appendix 2 fourthly documents will be published for hn
00:38:24 for hn 332 whose real name is restricted cover name if any is unknown who was a detective inspector in the SDS and subsequently the head of the SDS our analysis can be found at page
00:38:38 SDS our analysis can be found at page 183 to 186 of appendix 2 of our written opening
00:38:41 opening statement finally documents will be published for hn 394 whose real name is restricted and the cover cover name if any is
00:38:54 the cover cover name if any is unknown he was also a detective sergeant and then detective inspector in the SDS and subsequently the head of the SDS our analysis of these documents can
00:39:05 SDS our analysis of these documents can be found at page 186 to 189 of appendix 2 of council to the inquiries written opening
00:39:06 opening statement thank you sir that's everything thank you very much we'll resume in about 10 minutes with the with today's evidential hearing thank
00:39:20 today's evidential hearing thank you thank very much everyone we will now take a short break and we'll resume at 11:35 you may now go into your breakout rooms thank you e