Met Names Undercover Cops Accused Over Affairs
Women are accusing the force of emotional trauma after relationships with police who infiltrated their environmentalist group.
Friday 15 August 2014 09:55, UK
The names of undercover policemen who allegedly had relationships with female environmental activists have been made public for the first time.
A spokesman for the Met said: "In compliance with the order of Mr Justice Bean the MPS has confirmed in its defence that Jim Boyling and Bob Lambert were undercover police officers."
The High Court judge said last month that the police force could not use its "neither confirm nor deny" (NCND) policy after the women brought damages claims against the police.
The policy was brought in to protect the identities and safety of officers working undercover but the judge's ruling means it cannot be used in this case.
The female activists want compensation for what they say is the emotional trauma they suffered after being tricked into relationships with the police officers after they infiltrated the groups.
The women's claims for deceit, assault, negligence and misfeasance in public office arise out of long-term and intimate sexual relationships they had with four men who - unknown to them - were members of the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), between 1987 and 2007.
The Met had initially refused to reveal the names and, following the ruling, if it had not done so would have been considered to have admitted to the claims.
Solicitor Harriet Wistrich of Birnberg Peirce and Partners, who represents the women, said: "The police have been on notice of this case for three and a half years and until this judgment, they have willfully refused to engage in any meaningful way with the most serious allegations put to them.
"Their ongoing refusal in the face of an overwhelming body of evidence in the public domain has greatly aggravated the distress caused to my clients, who want answers from the police as well as justice and accountability."