Undercover policing is contentious. An examination of Peter Francis (alias Peter Black) in the Stephen Lawrence family campaign for justice highlights this.
He was deployed undercover to pose as a far-left activist. He said he was told to find “dirt” on the Lawrence family and others involved in campaigns for justice for Stephen. He told “Channel 4” Dispatches:”Throughout my deployment there was almost constant pressure on me personally to find out anything I could that would discredit these campaigns.”As well as the Ellison review, a parallel inquiry into undercover policing – Operation Herne – headed up by Derbyshire Chief Constable Creedon, also reported. The report stated that, after having interviewed more than 100 serving and former officers and police staff, they had found no evidence to support Francis’s claim of a ‘smear campaign’ against the Lawrence family. Peter Francis has responded by calling the Herne report a “whitewash”.’
Not only the Lawrence family campaign but SHAC (Stop Huningdon Animal Cruelty) were targetted by an ex P.C who worked as a CCTV operator with Cambridgeshire Constabulary, now living in Nordelph.
South Yorkshire Police may find that the past is coming home to roost.
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