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1968

January 1968

Special Demonstration Squad established as part of Metropolitan Police Special Branch.

1970

January 1970

HN302 admits to a fleeting sexual encounter with a person of the opposite sex who was associated with one of the two groups he spied on.
[ PDF ]

1974

January 1974

Jim Pickford (HN300) told another undercover officer that he had fallen in love with a female member of his target group during his deployment.
[ PDF ]

1975

March 1975

Rick Gibson / Clark (HN297) started relationship with Mary.

1976

January 1976

Deployment of ‘Vince Miller’ (HN354). Real name restricted.
Miller admits to fleeting sexual encounters with four women during his deployment. Two of these women were activists whose groups Miller spied upon and two were women he met whilst socialising in his cover identity.

1979

January 1979

Deployment of ‘Barry Tomkins’ (HN106). Real name restricted.
Security Services documentation indicates that Tomkins ‘bedded’ an activist in his undercover identity. Tomkins wasn’t called to give evidence on health grounds, but in his written statement he denies this. He does admit to often staying over in the house of a different woman, unconnected to his target groups. He claims this was purely platonic. Activists referred to this woman as his girlfriend.

January 1979

‘Phil Cooper’ (HN155) joined the SDS in 1979. His date of deployment is uncertain and his real name remains restricted. Cooper was not asked to give live evidence to the inquiry due to poor health. Cooper’s is an odd story when it comes to relationships in his cover identity. Two Risk Assessors employed by the MPS gave evidence to the Inquiry stating that Cooper admitted to two or three sexual encounters whilst undercover, but Cooper says he was just speaking hypothetically, and denies he had sex with activists.

August 1979

Late summer: Vince Miller begins a sexual relationship with ‘Madeleine’, a member of his target group the SWP. Their accounts differ significantly, with Madeleine asserting that it was a two-month relationship and Miller claiming it was a one night stand.

1981

April 1981

Alan Bond (HN67) admitted to a fleeting sexual encounter in his cover name with one woman who was not [he says] a member of his target group.
[ PDF ]

1982

January 1982

Mike Hartley (HN12) had a fleeting sexual encounter with a female activist.
[ PDF ]

1984

January 1984

Bob Robinson / Lambert (HN10) started relationship with Jacqui.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

1985

September 1985

Bob Robinson / Lambert (HN10) and Jacqui’s son TBS is born.

October 1985

Mike Blake / Chitty started relationship with Lizzie.
[ FULL STORY ]

1987

May 1987

Mike Blake / Chitty disappeared from Lizzie’s life.

May 1987

Bob Robinson / Lambert (HN10) started a relationship with Belinda.
[ FULL STORY ]

July 1987

Bob Robinson / Lambert (HN10) alleged to have detonated incendiary device in Debenhams store as part of an anti-fur protest.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

1988

December 1988

Bob Robinson / Lambert (HN10) disappeared from lives of Jacqui and her son, and Belinda.

1990

April 1990

John Barker / Dines (HN5) started relationship with Helen Steel.
[ FULL STORY ]

1991

January 1991

Matt Rayner (HN1) had relationship during deployment with Denise Fuller.
[ PDF ]

1992

March 1992

John Barker / Dines (HN5) disappeared from Helen Steel’s life.

March 1992

Anthony ‘Bobby’ Lewis (HN78) begins a relationship with Bea.

April 1992

Andy Davey / Coles (HN2) begins a relationship with Jessica.
[ FULL STORY ]

1993

April 1993

Relationship ends between Anthony ‘Bobby’ Lewis (HN78) and Bea.

August 1993

Andy Davey / Coles (HN2) and Jessica’s relationship ends.

1994

December 1994

Helen Steel obtains death certificate showing that John Barker had been using the identity of a child who died aged eight.

1995

May 1995

Mark Cassidy / Jenner (HN15) started relationship with Alison.
[ FULL STORY ]

September 1995

Anthony ‘Bobby’ Lewis had sexual encounter with Jenny.
[ PDF ]

1997

January 1997

HN91 entered into one relationship in the cover identity.
[ PDF ]

April 1997

Jim Sutton / Boyling (HN14) started a relationship with Monica.
[ FULL STORY ]

October 1997

Monica ended relationship with Jim Sutton / Boyling (HN14).

November 1997

Jim Sutton / Boyling (HN14) started a relationship with Ruth.
[ FULL STORY ]

1998

October 1998

James Straven (HN16) started a relationship with Sara.
[ FULL STORY ]

1999

January 1999

National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU) established.

August 1999

Ruth ended relationship with Jim Sutton / Boyling (HN14).

November 1999

Jim Sutton / Boyling (HN14) started a relationship with Rosa.
[ FULL STORY ]

2000

April 2000

Mark Cassidy / Jenner (HN15) disappeared from Alison’s life.

June 2000

After Cassidy’s / Jenner’s (HN15) sudden disappearance Alison begins to suspect he was an infiltrator.

September 2000

Jim Sutton / Boyling (HN14) goes missing abroad. Rosa begins her search for him. Foreign Office tell Rosa they have instigated a Missing British National investigation in Turkey.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

November 2000

Rosa discovers there is no record for Jim Sutton’s birth. Rosa phones (numbers she now knows to be) SDS HQ and Boyling’s handler’s mobile. Cryptic love letters from Sutton / Boyling commence claiming he is at risk.

December 2000

James Straven’s (HN16) and Sara’s relationship ended.

2001

February 2001

James Straven (HN16) starts a relationship with Ellie.

May 2001

Carlo Neri / Soracchi (HN104) started a relationship with Lindsey.
[ FULL STORY ]

July 2001

Rosa travels to South Africa searching for Jim Sutton / Boyling (HN14).

November 2001

James Straven (HN16) ends relationship with Ellie but there is ongoing contact (approximately every year) until 2018.

November 2001

Rosa’s search uncovers the headquarters of the Special Demonstration Squad, Sutton / Boyling (HN14) returns to Rosa continuing to lie and manipulate her. Boyling claims he needs help to escape the police.

November 2001

Rosa pregnant with child by Jim Sutton / Boyling.

2002

April 2002

Carlo Neri/Soracchi’s behaviour forces Lindsey to end their relationship.

September 2002

Carlo Neri / Soracchi (HN104) started a relationship with Andrea.
[ FULL STORY ]

2003

January 2003

Helen Steel meets with Alison to discuss their suspicions that Barker /Dines (HN5) and Cassidy / Jenner were infiltrators.

October 2003

Mark Stone / Kennedy starts a relationship with Kate Wilson.
[ FULL STORY ]

2004

January 2004

Rosa pregnant with second child by Jim Sutton / Boyling (HN14) who continues to lie and manipulate her.

September 2004

Mark Stone / Kennedy starts a relationship with Lisa.
[ FULL STORY ]

November 2004

Carlo Neri / Soracchi (HN104) disappears from Andrea’s life.

2005

February 2005

Mark Stone’s / Kennedy’s relationship with Kate Wilson ends. Mark Stone / Kennedy starts a relationship with Naomi.

April 2005

Mark Stone / Kennedy starts relationship with Sarah Hampton.

August 2005

Jim Sutton / Boyling (HN14) coerces Rosa into signing marriage documents.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

September 2005

Mark Stone / Kennedy’s relationship with Naomi ends (although there were further intimate encounters in November 2007 and April 2008)

2006

May 2006

Rob Harrison (HN18) starts a relationship with Maya.

May 2006

Relationship between Mark Stone / Kennedy and Sarah Hampton ends.

2007

January 2007

Bob Robinson / Lambert (HN10) and Noel Silver make ‘welfare visit’ to Rosa and her children.

February 2007

Rosa and her two children flee to women’s refuge to escape Sutton’s / Boyling’s (HN14) frightening and abusive behaviour.

August 2007

Rob Harrison (HN18) disappears from Maya’s life but continues to keep in contact online intermittently.  

2008

January 2008

Special Demonstration Squad disbanded.

August 2008

Marco Jacobs (HN519 / EN1) starts relationship with ARB.

October 2008

Mark Stone / Kennedy starts a relationship with Jane.

November 2008

Relationship between Marco Jacobs (HN519 / EN1) and ARB ends.

2009

April 2009

Relationship between Mark Stone / Kennedy and Jane ends.

August 2009

Rosa’s divorce from Jim Sutton / Boyling (HN14) is confirmed in court.

October 2009

Mark Stone / Kennedy disappears but maintains telephone contact with Lisa with whom he is still in a close relationship, and briefly sees her in November 2009 whilst asking her not to tell anyone he’s around.

2010

January 2010

Mark Stone / Kennedy officially leaves the police and starts working for private security company Global Open

January 2010

Mark Stone / Kennedy re-appears in Lisa’s life without previous trappings; he has a canal boat instead of a house and a different phone.

March 2010

The Observer newspaper published a series of articles regarding the role of ‘Officer A’ within the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS). It later became clear Officer A was whistle-blower, Peter Francis, first called Peter Black in the media.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

July 2010

Lisa finds Mark Kennedy’s passport and is told another set of lies by him.

August 2010

Rosa gets message to Helen Steel about Sutton / Boyling (HN14) and they meet.

August 2010

Lisa hears rumours about Sutton / Boyling (HN14) at Shambala festival.

October 2010

Lisa investigates the identity of her partner of six years Mark Stone and discovers he was an undercover police officer called Mark Kennedy. Lisa and others confront him.

2011

January 2011

ARB discovers Marco Jacobs (HN519 / EN1) is an undercover police officer.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

January 2011

Trial collapses because Mark Kennedy / Stone offers to give evidence on behalf of the environmental campaigners he infiltrated who charged with conspiring to shut down Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in Nottingham in 2009.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

January 2011

The Guardian newspaper published what was the first in a series of articles that identified the source as a police officer identifying himself as Peter Black.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

April 2011

Lisa and Helen Steel visit Gareth Peirce at Birnberg Peirce to explore possibility of a legal case against the Metropolitan police.

October 2011

Lisa, Naomi and Kate Wilson issue civil claim for damages against Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis in the High Court for common law claims of assault, misfeasance in public office, deceit, negligence and under the Human Rights Act for breaches of articles 3 and 8 of European Court of Human Rights.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

December 2011

Letter before claim sent to Commissioner of Police on behalf of eight claimants (Lisa, Naomi, Kate Wilson, Rosa, Helen Steel, Ruth, Alison, Belinda). Disclosure requested.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

2012

March 2012

Bindmans send to Metropolitan police letter before claim on behalf of ARB.

June 2012

Jacqui sees article in newspaper with photograph of Bob Robinson / Lambert (HN10) and met him a week later.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

June 2012

Met police apply to court to strike out Lisa, Naomi and Kate Wilson’s claim on jurisdictional grounds – ie. that it should have been brought in the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT).

June 2012

Police responds to letter before claim from all eight claimants – NCND raised for first time.

July 2012

TBS is told by mother (Jacqui) about discovery of his father Bob Lambert’s true identity.

July 2012

Rosa and others (Helen Steel, Alison, Ruth, Belinda) issue civil claim for damages against Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis in the High Court for common law claims of assault, misfeasance in public office, deceit and negligence.

2013

January 2013

High Court ruling in case of Lisa, Naomi and Kate Wilson: Human Rights Act claims must be heard in IPT and common law claims are stayed until outcome of IPT proceedings.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

February 2013

Lisa, Alison, Jacqui and Helen Steel (using pseudonym ‘Clare’) give evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee about their experience of being deceived into relationships with undercover police officers.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

May 2013

Police serve defence of neither confirm nor deny (NCND) in response to civil claims of eight women (Rosa and others).

June 2013

Whistle-blower Peter Francis reveals he spied on the Stephen Lawrence campaign.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

June 2013

Publication of Undercover: The True Story of Britain’s Undercover Police by Paul Lewis and Rob Evans.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

June 2013

Channel 4 Dispatches covers the scandal with contributions from whistle-blower Peter Francis, Helen Steel, Jacqui and Belinda.
[ YOUTUBE ]

August 2013

The government rejects Home Affairs Select Committee finding that there is a compelling case for a fundamental review of the legislative framework governing undercover policing, including the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 due to its failure to protect human rights.

September 2013

Bindmans send to Metropolitan police letter before claim on behalf of Sarah Hampton.

September 2013

Application by police to strike out eight women’s claims on grounds that either they can’t defend the claim due to NCND or that they should be released from disclosure obligations.

November 2013

Court of Appeal dismisses Lisa, Naomi and Kate Wilson’s appeal against decision that IPT has exclusive jurisdiction to hear Human Rights Act claims, but lifts stay in common law claims. Eight common law claims can proceed in high court.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

November 2013

Women deceived into relationships with Marco Jacobs launch civil claim.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

2014

March 2014

Theresa May orders public inquiry into undercover policing in England and Wales.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

March 2014

Police withdraw application to strike out claim by eight women on grounds that a public inquiry into undercover policing has been announced.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

July 2014

High Court ruling claim of eight women: Police cannot rely on NCND policy to avoid pleading a defence to the claims. Police submit amended defence.

August 2014

Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) write to Rosa setting out decision not to charge Jim Boyling with any offences relating to his sexual relationship while undercover. It states ‘genuine feelings’ were involved.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

August 2014

Mark Thomas’s Cuckooed performed in venues across UK.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

August 2014

Rob Harrison (HN18) reappears in Maya’s life and persuades her to get back together with him.

September 2014

Rosa requests Victims Right of Review (VRR) of CPS decision not to prosecute Boyling.

October 2014

Jacqui’s civil claim is settled.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

December 2014

CPS communicate Victims Right of Review decision is still not to prosecute.

December 2014

Mediation meetings for Rosa and others.

December 2014

Supreme Court refuse Lisa, Naomi and Kate Wilson permission to appeal Court of Appeal decision of November 2013 forcing their cases into the IPT.

2015

January 2015

Ellie last saw James Straven (HN16).

February 2015

Rob Harrison (HN18) disappears again from Maya’s life.

March 2015

Home Secretary Theresa May announces Lord Justice Pitchford to lead public inquiry into undercover policing in light of findings in the Ellison report.

March 2015

Publication of first edition Blacklisted by Phil Chamberlain and Dave Smith.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

June 2015

Mediation in Lisa, Naomi and Kate Wilson cases: Lisa and Naomi agree settlement – seek to keep open IPT proceedings but refused. Kate Wilson continues case on advice she may beat Part 36 offer made by police.

June 2015

Public inquiry begins. The terms of reference are broad: to inquire into and report on undercover police operations conducted by English and Welsh police forces in England and Wales since 1968. Evidential hearings timetabled to start in 2017 and the Inquiry report is scheduled to be delivered to the Home Secretary by July 2018.

July 2015

Andrea receives message about Carlo Neri (HN104)being an undercover police officer.

July 2015

A woman takes legal action against Global Open, a commercial firm hired by companies to monitor protesters. Mark Kennedy pursued her to start the relationship, while, she says, he worked undercover for Global Open.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

October 2015

All eight women are designated core participants in the public inquiry.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

November 2015

Fact of settlement of women’s claims and public apology from police published.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

2016

January 2016

TBS (son of Bob Lambert and Jacqui) made claim against the Metropolitan police for damages.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

January 2016

Birnberg Peirce send to Metropolitan police letter before claim on behalf of Andrea.
[ FULL STORY ]

January 2016

At Case Management Conference due to set timetable for disclosure in Kate Wilson’s ongoing claim, the police withdraw defence and ask for judgment to be made against them.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

February 2016

Birnberg Peirce send to Metropolitan police letter before claim on behalf of Monica.
[ FULL STORY ]

February 2016

Nottingham Playhouse run of ‘Any Means’ by Kefi Chadwick.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

March 2016

Helen Steel confronts Barker / Dines (HN5) in Australia.

April 2016

BBC broadcast Peter Moffat’s drama Undercover.
[ BBC WEBSITE ]

October 2016

Bindmans send to Metropolitan police letter before claim on behalf of Lindsey.
[ FULL STORY ]

2017

February 2017

Sarah Hampton’s civil claim is settled.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

April 2017

Kate Wilson lodges particulars of claim in the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT).
[ www.ipt-uk.com ]

May 2017

Birnberg Peirce send to Metropolitan police letter before claim on behalf of Jessica.
[ FULL STORY ]

May 2017

May 2017 – ARB’s civil claim is settled.

May 2017

Sir John Mitting takes over chair of public inquiry.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

July 2017

CPS writes to Monica communicating decision not to charge Jim Boyling (HN14) with offences against her.

August 2017

Monica makes complaint to police and gives interview regarding Jim Boyling (HN14).

December 2017

IPT order police to make disclosure and/or provide witness statements to Kate Wilson by 19 February 2018.

December 2017

Birnberg Peirce send to Metropolitan police letter before claim on behalf of Lizzie.

2018

March 2018

Monica issues judicial review challenge of CPS decision not to prosecute Jim Boyling under the Sexual Offences Act or for Misconduct in Public Office.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

March 2018

Defendants serve amended defence in IPT claim. No disclosure provided.

May 2018

UCPI Chair states that final report won’t now be provided to the Home Secretary until towards the end of 2023.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

May 2018

Boyling dismissed following misconduct hearing based on Rosa’s evidence. The panel read out files Boyling submitted on Rosa during relationship.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

June 2018

Police Spies Out of Lives partner Lush to launch awareness raising publicity campaign.
[ uk.lush.com ]

September 2018

Metropolitan police admit that the sexual relationship Mark Kennedy had while he was undercover was a violation of Kate Wilson’s fundamental right not to be subjected to torture or inhumane and degrading treatment.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

October 2018

The public inquiry confirms James Straven was an SDS officer.

October 2018

IPT order police to lodge fully pleaded defence and witness statements with necessary documents exhibited to comply with the duty of candour by 3 January 2019.

December 2018

Divisional court dismiss Monica’s application judicially reviewing the CPS decision.
[ MORE DETAILS ]

2019

January 2019

UCPI Chair announces further delay, stating that evidential hearings are now unlikely to start until 2020.

January 2019

Police’s amended defence and witness statements served in Kate Wilson’s IPT claim.

February 2019

Kate Wilson responds to the police’s witness evidence setting out their failure to meet the duty of candour.

February 2019

Divisional court refuse Monica’s application to appeal to supreme court and to certify a point of law.

April 2019

Birnberg Peirce send to Metropolitan police letter before claim on behalf of Sara and Ellie.
[ FULL STORY ]

May 2019

BBC broadcast The Informer by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani
[ BBC WEBSITE ]

September 2019

Premier screening of Solidarity about undercover police and blacklisting of construction workers.
[ www.solidarityfilm.com ]

September 2019

House of Commons Library publish briefing document about undercover policing in England and Wales.

November 2019

Trade union conference and political policing at Greenwich University.
[ CONFERENCE ]

2020

May 2020

A long delay to the next Phase of Inquiry hearings is announced by the Inquiry Chairman. Tranche 1, Phase 3 hearings will now begin after Easter 2022.

November 2020

Evidential hearings of UCPI scheduled to begin remotely.

November 2020

The first Undercover Policing Inquiry hearings begin after 5 years and 5 months of procedural wrangling. Fourteen days of opening statements and evidence are heard – but these are not accessible to Inquiry core participants or members of the public, as the Inquiry Chair decides that audio-visual streaming of evidence is too dangerous for the ex-officers and for the security of policing operations. Only a handful of people, who brave the Covid 19 lockdown restrictions, can see the evidence at the Inquiry screening room in Central London. Police Spies Out of Lives bring actors such as Maxine Peake to read the rolling transcript.

November 2020

PSOOL deliver a video message to Undercover Policing Inquiry Chair, Sir John Mitting and the Metropolitan Police – projected 30 foot high onto the walls of Scotland Yard, the Royal Courts of Justice and the Garrick Club (where John Mitting is a member). Our message: we’re keeping a very close eye on how you’re dealing with the spycops scandal.

NSY Projection Video

November 2020

To coincide with the start of the very first Undercover Policing Inquiry hearings, five years after the Inquiry began, PSOOL hire an ‘Advan’ – a 20 foot long advertising board, driven to London venues significant to the activists who were targeted by Spycops. The artwork, by Art Against Blacklisting Collective, is a beautiful backdrop to demonstrators at the hearing venue – the Amba Hotel.

December 2020

Police Spies Out of Lives partner The Telegraph to launch the Bed of Lies podcast to reach new audiences and raise wider public awareness of this policing scandal.

2021

April 2021

Timed to coincide with the start of the second Undercover Policing Inquiry hearings PSOOL produce an animated video explainer of the spycops scandal so far, illustrated by the wonderful Dawn Donohoe.

Watch it here

April 2021

For the start of the second set of Undercover Policing Inquiry hearings PSOOL drive a digital advertising van around to venues where police spies have been active. We show a looped video explainer of our experience with the ‘spycops inquiry’.

Watch it here

April 2021

Tranche 1, Part 2 – Undercover Policing Inquiry hearings take place over a fifteen-day period. You can read the excellent daily summaries of these hearings by the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance (COPS).

May 2021

Police Spies Out of Lives launches Just Say No! – a parody training resource for undercover police.

September 2021

The judgment in Kate Wilson’s (link: ) decade-long Investigatory Powers Tribunal case is handed down. The judgment finds that five of Kate’s human rights (ECHR) were breached by the Metropolitan Police and that the deployment of undercover officer Mark Kennedy, and five other officers, into Kate’s life and political movements ‘….was not necessary in a democratic society and not proportionate’ and ‘…not in accordance with the law’. Damning findings by three senior judges. The legal precedent that Kate’s case sets is likely to impact on future legal and public inquiry considerations.

October 2021

The Undercover Policing Inquiry Chair hears evidence in secret by anonymous officers in their ‘Tranche 1 Phase 4’ hearings. We have no idea when and where hearings are or who or what is discussed. We expect more of these hearings as the Inquiry progresses. Public inquiry proceedings in name only.

2022

January 2022

The Investigatory Powers Tribunal awards significant damages in Kate Wilson’s human rights case against the Metropolitan Police and the National Police Chiefs Council.

February 2022

Publication of ‘Small Town Girl – Love, Lies and the Undercover Police’ written by Donna McLean.

March 2022

Publication of ‘Deep Deception – The story of the spycop network by the women who uncovered the shocking truth’. Five of the women who brought the issue of spycops to public attention release their book chronicling this international scandal.

March 2022

PSOOL works with Motion Graphics Designer Dawn Donohoe to produce an explainer animation of Kate Wilson’s hugely important case at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.

Watch it here

May 2022

The third Undercover Policing Inquiry hearings happen over two weeks from 9th May. Special Demonstration Squad managers who oversaw operations in the first fourteen years of the highly secretive unit give evidence, most in written form and anonymously. Very helpful daily summaries of the evidence written by the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance are found here

July 2022

Sir Mark Rowley is appointed as head of the Metropolitan Police after the resignation of Dame Cressida Dick. Rowley is a ‘company man’ with decades of police service. He comes out of retirement to lead the country’s largest police force, with promises of ‘urgent reform’ as findings of institutional racism and corruption still hang over the Met and amidst accusations of serious misogyny and homophobia at an institutional level.

September 2022

The Undercover Policing Inquiry releases the name of the officer known as ‘Vince Miller’. He is Vincent Harvey an officer who rose through the ranks of the Met Police to reach Assistant Commissioner level. His earlier questioning (link: https://www.ucpi.org.uk/hearing/evidence-hearings-t1-p2-day-14/ ) by Counsel to the Inquiry David Barr KC is jaw-dropping. He is closely questioned about his sexual relationships whilst undercover, notably with PSOOL ‘s own ‘Madeleine’, whose evidence the day before is frank, sincere and eloquent. Unfortunately no aural record of this evidence exists as the Inquiry Chair is still refusing public access to all but the live audio. It is notable that during Harvey’s evidence he admits that had ‘Madeleine’ known he was a police officer he believes she would not have consented to a sexual relationship with him.

November 2022

Special Demonstration Squad officer James ‘Straven’ has his real name, James Thomson, quietly added to the Undercover Policing Inquiry website. Thomson initially applied for, and was granted, anonymity over his cover and real names, until it was discovered that he had lied about not having sexual relationships in his cover identity. He had two relationships, with ‘Sara’ and ‘Ellie’ and maintained a friendship with ‘Ellie’ that lasted for 18 years, until she discovered his true identity.

2023

February 2023

The Undercover Policing Inquiry holds summary hearings for their entire progress to date (Tranche 1 hearings).

2024

August 2024

The second of six ‘Tranches’ of Undercover Policing Inquiry hearings is due to begin, hearing evidence from Special Demonstration Squad officers, and the people whose lives they infiltrated, between 1982 and 1992. There has been a much-criticised two year delay since the last evidence was heard in 2022.

* Every effort has been made to provide accurate information in this timeline. If you spot an error, please let us know.