THE UCPI SPEAKS OF TAKING A TRAUMA-BASED APPROACH, BUT ITS ACTIONS ARE CONSTANTLY SQUEEZING THOSE WHO WERE SPIED UPON ~ Donal O’Driscoll, Undercover Research Group ~ The Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI) started tranche three of its hearings in the autumn, looking at undercover policing in London from 1992-2007. The very first day of live evidence was cancelled, while behind the scenes participants looked on in bewilderment as the Inquiry struggled with basic activities. The Inquiry has been looking at three aspects. The Metropolitan Police’s Special Demonstration Squad, which operated out of London from 1968 to 2007, the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU) from 1999 to 2010, and then other miscellaneous issues. These are divided into tranches. It took from 2020 to July this year to hear about the SDS from 1968 to 1992 – tranches one and two. Phase one of tranche three started in October, looking at the SDS from 1992 to the closure of the unit in 2007, continuing until December. The UCPI orders evidence by hearing from those who were affected first, then the undercover. This phase hears about James Thomson (‘James Straven’) who targeted animal rights groups and had multiple relationships. Following that is Peter Francis, who targeted anti-fascists, Youth Against Racism in Europe (YRE) and Militant. There has been considerable focus on the spying on the family, friends and justice campaign of black teenager Stephen Lawrence, killed in a racist attack in 1992, and which led to the Macpherson Inquiry. Amazingly, the Inquiry gave a pass to key undercover HN81 ‘Dave Hagan’ an infiltrator of campaigns around the murder who was not called, to the horror of everyone involved. Apparently he was too ill. Finally there is Mark Jenner (‘Mark Cassidy’) who targeted the Colin Roach Centre and Anti-Fascist Action, and deceived ‘Alison’ into a relationship. Absent from this tranche was ‘Christina Green’ who infiltrated London Animal Action and took part in mink liberations. She left the police after starting up a relationship with an activist. Apparently she is not cooperating with the Inquiry. ‘Jackie Anderson,’ who targeted Reclaim the Streets and the WOMBLES, is also missing, apparently untraceable. Phase two, covering other tranche three undercovers from the SDS, will come in February 2026, when we can expect to hear from the likes of Reclaim the Streets and learn more about undercovers ‘Jason Bishop’ and ‘Rob Harrison’. Tranche four, which looks at the NPOIU including the likes of Mark Kennedy, ‘Lynn Watson’, Rod Richardson and ‘Marco Jacobs, will take place later in 2026. Perhaps. The Undercover Policing Inquiry was announced in 2014. Originally due to report to Parliament in 2018, it’s increasingly looking like it will be 2028 at the earliest. The first chair died, the second recently announced he will be retiring, and we still have to learn who will succeed him. It’s unprecedented to have two chairs, but three is next level. He’s not the only one leaving, with key staff changeovers now a regular occurrence and people being shifted around in order to cover the shortfall. All this is having knock-on effects. With an onerous security checking process, the release of material is being delayed. A good proportion of the tranche two material was yet to be made public at the time of writing. Meanwhile, lawyers trying to make opening statements for tranche three were drip-fed the material they needed right to the last minute. As so often in this inquiry, the needs of those who suffered at the hands of the undercovers are left standing last in line. Unrealistic timetables continue to be applied to core participants’ lawyers, to make up for the Inquiry’s own delays. Unfairly, some people who waited a decade have been denied the basic right to make opening statements, based on arbitrary decisions. Core participant Dave Smith, of the Blacklist Support Group, has had to force a judicial review as the Inquiry had decided he should not give evidence on blacklisting – part of its terms of reference. Illness of officers is also a recurring theme. The opening day of evidence for this tranche was due to take place on October 16th, but former Special Branch chief Peter Phelan was too ill. Behind the scenes as the current chair, Sir John Mitting, wanted to keep the name of Mark Kennedy’s handler, an officer known only as EN31, secret – because the poor guy was having a hard time of it. This also caused outrage, as EN31 was the one who provided cover for the entirety of Kennedy’s abuses and clearly knew about the undercover’s many sexual relationships. The Inquiry speaks of taking a trauma-based approach, but its actions are constantly squeezing the victims, while undercovers remain treated with kid gloves. As has been pointed out repeatedly, the undercovers are demanding the sort of respect and anonymity that they denied all those they targeted. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was first published in the Winter 2025-2026 issue of Freedom anarchist journal The post Spycops inquiry update: Victims’ needs are last in line appeared first on Freedom News.