Information in the public domain concerning the covert surveillance of protest groups from the late 1960s forward wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the remarkable bravery of a group of women who were duped into long-term intimate relationships by officers. It’s been over a decade since a judge-led public inquiry took over the investigation of this and other wrongdoings by undercover units. After it was revealed that officers had monitored Stephen Lawrence’s family, Theresa May, who was the home secretary at the time, launched the inquiry.
ITV’s new documentary series, “The Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed,” created in partnership with the Guardian, underscores that this outcome wasn’t a foregone conclusion. This three-part series, featuring astonishing home video clips of officer Mark Jenner (known as Mark Cassidy while undercover), offers a gripping and alarming portrayal of how five women were deceived into prolonged romantic entanglements. Alongside highlighting individual misconduct, the series exposes the systemic nature of the abuse and the incredible determination of the women who brought the truth to light.
Undercover policing, much like intelligence gathering, plays a crucial role in safeguarding the public from threats. Yet, the methods employed by this particular unit, the Special Demonstration Squad, were fundamentally flawed, as acknowledged by the Metropolitan Police a decade ago when they settled a civil lawsuit. The women targeted were wholly inappropriate subjects, as the activists depicted in the documentary were engaged in peaceful left-leaning protests.
In 2011, when Mark Stone (whose real name is Mark Kennedy) was exposed, efforts were made to paint him as a “rogue officer.” However, this narrative didn’t hold up; a training manual obtained by this paper recommended using “short-term” relationships as a strategy. Now, it’s evident that more than 50 women were manipulated into relationships by at least 25 officers, some of whom had children with partners unaware of their true identities (Bob Lambert’s child’s mother discovered his real name from the media).
Who came up with this idea? Who authorized these operations in specific situations? Was the officer the sole source for intelligence, or were conversations bugged? What were the discussions like between officers and their supervisors when women talked about having children or when they asked their partners to attend funerals during times of grief?
Despite the inquiry, a significant amount of information is still concealed. Of the four men portrayed in the series, Bob Lambert remains the only one who has testified. John Dines (undercover as John Barker), who spent two years with Helen Steel before abandoning her, has declined to speak. Last year, one officer, Trevor Morris, labeled the Met’s official apology to the women as “outrageous.”
Years of contemplation have turned these women into articulate witnesses and capable investigators. Most of the officers using these tactics were men, some already married with families. These women find some solace in having outsmarted the clandestine system, but nothing can erase the lost years and emotions. The officially endorsed deceit and exploitation of numerous young women by British police officers was a scandalous chapter. Simply promising it won’t happen again falls short. There must be a commitment to full transparency and accountability, and the resistance to this must cease.
