Prosecutors weigh charges in spycops scandal
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The gist
Prosecutors weigh charges against 12 former police officers in spycops scandal. First potential criminal charges for undercover officers who spied on activists.
Background
The spycops scandal involves more than 100 undercover police officers who infiltrated leftwing and environmental groups over four decades, deceiving activists and sometimes forming intimate relationships under false identities. The Crown Prosecution Service is now considering charges against 12 former officers, including Mark Kennedy, for misconduct in public office. This follows a long-running public inquiry and internal police investigations into the undercover operations.
How it unfolded
- 1968 -2010Undercover police operations infiltrated political groups, with over 100 officers spying on tens of thousands of activists.
- 2010Mark Kennedy's real identity was uncovered by Lisa Jones, a woman he had a six-year relationship with, sparking the scandal.
- 2015Operation Montrose, a police investigation into Kennedy and others, was initiated.
- 2021Kate Wilson won a landmark tribunal case, ruling police grossly violated her human rights.
- recentlyThe NPCC sent a file of evidence on Kennedy and 11 other officers to the CPS, which is now considering charges.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The CPS is examining evidence to decide whether to authorize charges for misconduct in public office.
- Public
- Campaigners like Kate Wilson have expressed frustration that the inquiry has not yet delivered full truth.
Still unverified
Details of the alleged wrongdoing by the 12 officers have not been made public.