The case is one of seven that prompted a formal apology from the British police yesterday (Nov 20) for the behaviour of undercover officers who used relationships – one nine years long – to gather intelligence and to infiltrate environmental, social justice or other advocacy groups.
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Assistant commissioner Martin Hewit said: “I acknowledge that these relationships were a violation of the women’s human rights, an abuse of police power and caused significant trauma”.
A statement issued on behalf of the eight women by Police Spies Out Of Lives said that while no apology or amount of financial compensation could make up for the emotional trauma they had endured, “we are pleased the police have been forced to acknowledge the abusive nature of these relationships and that they should never happen”.
“The Metropolitan police recognises that these cases demonstrate that there have been failures of supervision and management”.
The Met has also made undisclosed financial settlements to the women.
Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt warned that any future officer who had a sexual relationship with someone they were targeting risked prosecution, even if they believed it was necessary in a life-and-death situation.
The officers in question were working for the Special Demonstration Squad, a unit within the Met Police’s Special branch that was in existence up until 2008, and the National Public Order Intelligence Unit, which was operational until 2011. These three are said by lawyers to have had more than one undercover relationship.
The force issued the “unreserved” apology as part of a “substantial” settlement with the women who were deceived into forming relationships not knowing the men were officers.
He said Scotland Yard accepts that the women had not “brought it on themselves”, adding: ‘They were deceived pure and simple’.
The group claimed it was aware of more intimate relationships that have yet to be exposed.
“They were wrong and were a gross violation of personal dignity and integrity”, he said.
One women, known as Lisa Jones, was in a relationship with Kennedy for six years before she discovered his real objectives.
“By linking our cases together we have been able to evidence a clear pattern of abusive, discriminatory behavior towards women which amounts to institutional sexism by the Metropolitan Police”.
Mr Hewitt concluded: ‘Undercover policing is a lawful and important tactic but it must never be abused.
Hewitt said a criminal investigation and a misconduct investigation is continuing.
The settlements cover the actions of five former undercover officers, including Bob Lambert and Jim Boyling from the Met and Mark Kennedy of the NPOIU.
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A number of investigations are being carried out into undercover policing, including a judge-led inquiry that opened earlier this year.
