Message primarily for anyone who has or may have been involved in a campaign/activist group/movement that was infiltrated by undercover police operatives in the last few decades - and also of (less urgent) interest with reference to radical history.
As you are no doubt aware, since 2010 this issue has been brought to public attention by the hard work of a large number of activists from various movements, some of whom have been targeted in more personal and intimate ways, having been involved in 'relationships' with several of these police spies.
As you may or may not know, public pressure has forced the Home Secretary into announcing a Public Inquiry into undercover policing in the UK. Without a doubt we all feel some cynicism about the possibilities of finding out how many police spies have penetrated which groups, campaigns and families, or of what real change might come out of the process.However, the more of us that have an input into the Inquiry, the more they MIGHT be forced to reveal, and the greater the chance of putting the state on the back foot and restricting some of the clandestine activities they may feel they can get away with. Temporary or partial as this may be, some of us feel this makes it worth taking part in the Inquiry.
Attached to this email are two documents* about participating in the Public Inquiry into undercover policing, which include pro forma texts for applying to the PI for core participant status. Applications should be made this week, *by 4pm Friday 18th Sept.* (They're not making it easy on us for obvious reasons). Applications can still be made at a later date but you will have less ability to influence the course of events or who you are represented by. (You will need to read the statements for a proper explanation of what a Core Participant is... It does give people some legal protection and representation, and some input on how the Inquiry develops).
Please pass these documents on to anyone you know who has been involved in any campaign in the UK since 1968! They may also want to consider taking part.
*Pro Forma
*Information/advice
It has been pointed out that "There are possible negative repercussions to registering.." and at least one correspondent wonders "how much this is an attempt to flush out old activists and look at their contacts". No doubt those who are most affected will be aware of this way of looking at it and exercise their own judgement. Up to you, folks.
ReplyDeleteUPDATE: BBC 15-2-18: "Undercover police inquiry: Can it get to the truth?" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43030681
ReplyDelete"It is the public inquiry that has cost £9m and got very little to show for it so far.
A month from now, the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI) - one of the most controversial and least understood investigations ever into abuse of power - will be three years old.
"It was announced in March 2015 and when its chairman set out its aims, he anticipated there would be a report on the home secretary's desk three years later.
Instead, it is going to be at least another year before the victims of those abuses of power will hear any of the evidence about why they were subjected to surveillance and monitoring, despite admissions from the Metropolitan Police that some of what happened was profoundly wrong.
The UCPI was launched after a series of scandals about policing units dedicated to monitoring political protest."[...]
Update, March 2018:
ReplyDelete1)Undercover policing inquiry: Chairman urged to quit - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43487941 - Campaigners have walked out of a public inquiry into undercover policing, demanding that the chairman stand down or appoint a full panel. The inquiry was set up in 2015 to investigate claims of wrongdoing by forces in England and Wales...
2) Campaigners stage walkout of 'secretive' police spying inquiry | https://www.theguardian.com/.../campaigners-stage-walkout-of-secretive-police-spyin... - Doreen Lawrence says the public inquiry into police spying is 'cloaked in secrecy and anonymity'. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images. Campaigners who were infiltrated by police spies have walked out of a public inquiry hearing into the undercover infiltration of political groups...
3) Spycop victims walk out of Undercover Policing Inquiry, demanding ... https://www.opendemocracy.net/.../spycop-victims-walk-out-of-undercover-policing-i...- Image: Police spies out of lives. “No justice, no peace” and “sack Mitting now” were the cries from campaigners and victims of political policing as they blocked the main entrance of the Royal Courts of Justice, after storming out of the latest hearing of the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI)...
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