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| Theresa May accused of snubbing Scotland over police spies inquiry | Theresa May accused of snubbing Scotland over police spies inquiry |
| (21 days later) | |
| Theresa May, the prime minister, has come under criticism for excluding the scrutiny of undercover operations in Scotland from a public inquiry. | Theresa May, the prime minister, has come under criticism for excluding the scrutiny of undercover operations in Scotland from a public inquiry. |
| She had set up the public inquiry into the undercover infiltration of hundreds of political groups since 1968, but limited its scope to examining covert operations in England and Wales. | She had set up the public inquiry into the undercover infiltration of hundreds of political groups since 1968, but limited its scope to examining covert operations in England and Wales. |
| In one of her last decisions as home secretary, she resisted calls to extend the public inquiry to look at the conduct of the undercover police in Scotland as well. | In one of her last decisions as home secretary, she resisted calls to extend the public inquiry to look at the conduct of the undercover police in Scotland as well. |
| Her decision has provoked criticism from campaigners and politicians who say that significant abuses by the undercover police will be ignored. | Her decision has provoked criticism from campaigners and politicians who say that significant abuses by the undercover police will be ignored. |
| Police have said undercover police who monitored political activists in England and Wales collaborated with Scottish police forces. For example, Mark Kennedy, the undercover officer who infiltrated environmental groups for seven years, visited Scotland 14 times during his time as a spy. | Police have said undercover police who monitored political activists in England and Wales collaborated with Scottish police forces. For example, Mark Kennedy, the undercover officer who infiltrated environmental groups for seven years, visited Scotland 14 times during his time as a spy. |
| In December last year, the Scottish government pressed May to extend the inquiry - led by a senior judge, Lord Justice Pitchford - north of the border. The call had been supported by politicians from across the political divide (see here, here and here). | In December last year, the Scottish government pressed May to extend the inquiry - led by a senior judge, Lord Justice Pitchford - north of the border. The call had been supported by politicians from across the political divide (see here, here and here). |
| Last week Brandon Lewis, the policing minister, had said that “for a number of reasons, it is not possible to expand the geographical scope of the inquiry.” | Last week Brandon Lewis, the policing minister, had said that “for a number of reasons, it is not possible to expand the geographical scope of the inquiry.” |
| Explaining May’s decision, he said that amending the inquiry’s remit would “require further consultation and delay the progress of the inquiry”. He added:”In the interests of learning lessons from past failures and improving public confidence, it is important that the inquiry can proceed swiftly and make recommendations as soon as possible.” Lewis set out May’s decision in a letter which can be found here. | Explaining May’s decision, he said that amending the inquiry’s remit would “require further consultation and delay the progress of the inquiry”. He added:”In the interests of learning lessons from past failures and improving public confidence, it is important that the inquiry can proceed swiftly and make recommendations as soon as possible.” Lewis set out May’s decision in a letter which can be found here. |
| Individuals who were spied on by the police said the majority of known officers from two undercover units that monitored political groups “were active in Scotland for several decades. To ignore that is to prevent the inquiry from dealing with a significant part of its remit. It sets the inquiry up to fail before it begins.” | Individuals who were spied on by the police said the majority of known officers from two undercover units that monitored political groups “were active in Scotland for several decades. To ignore that is to prevent the inquiry from dealing with a significant part of its remit. It sets the inquiry up to fail before it begins.” |
| One of them, Merrick Cork, said:”It’s outrageous that Theresa May thinks victims of police abuse deserve justice in England but not in Scotland. It’s absurd to expect public trust in police when abuses of power are swept under the carpet, and it’s a snub to Scotland to say it doesn’t matter there.” | One of them, Merrick Cork, said:”It’s outrageous that Theresa May thinks victims of police abuse deserve justice in England but not in Scotland. It’s absurd to expect public trust in police when abuses of power are swept under the carpet, and it’s a snub to Scotland to say it doesn’t matter there.” |
| Their statement can be found here, and an analysis of May’s decision by the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance, the coalition of people who were spied on by the undercover police, here. | Their statement can be found here, and an analysis of May’s decision by the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance, the coalition of people who were spied on by the undercover police, here. |
| Neil Findlay, a Labour MSP, told the BBC that ‘the victims of unethical and illegal undercover policing’ in England and Wales would have access to ‘the truth and potentially justice’, while those in Scotland would not. | Neil Findlay, a Labour MSP, told the BBC that ‘the victims of unethical and illegal undercover policing’ in England and Wales would have access to ‘the truth and potentially justice’, while those in Scotland would not. |
| Now the Scottish government is under pressure to set up its own inquiry into the covert operations. | Now the Scottish government is under pressure to set up its own inquiry into the covert operations. |
| For some months, May has been challenged to extend the inquiry to other countries where the British undercover officers are known to have operated. | For some months, May has been challenged to extend the inquiry to other countries where the British undercover officers are known to have operated. |
| The undercover officers went to at least 16 other countries such as Germany and France during their covert missions, according to this analysis. | The undercover officers went to at least 16 other countries such as Germany and France during their covert missions, according to this analysis. |
| The analysis, by the Undercover Research Group, a resource on covert infiltration of political groups, lists known overseas operations by a series of undercover officers who have been unmasked. They include the spies who operated under the fake names of Marco Jacobs and Lynn Watson. | The analysis, by the Undercover Research Group, a resource on covert infiltration of political groups, lists known overseas operations by a series of undercover officers who have been unmasked. They include the spies who operated under the fake names of Marco Jacobs and Lynn Watson. |
| In June, following pressure from campaigners such as Left party MP Andrej Hunko, the German government wrote to May calling for Pitchford’s inquiry to be extended to covert operations by British police in Germany. | In June, following pressure from campaigners such as Left party MP Andrej Hunko, the German government wrote to May calling for Pitchford’s inquiry to be extended to covert operations by British police in Germany. |
| In the past, German police have said Kennedy worked for three German states during at least five visits to the country between 2004 and 2009. | In the past, German police have said Kennedy worked for three German states during at least five visits to the country between 2004 and 2009. |
| According to German police, he committed at least two crimes, but the cases against him were dropped at the behest of German authorities who knew Kennedy’s true identity. | According to German police, he committed at least two crimes, but the cases against him were dropped at the behest of German authorities who knew Kennedy’s true identity. |
| Meanwhile police chiefs have said undercover officers from a Metropolitan police undercover unit, the Special Demonstration Squad, operated in Northern Ireland without informing local police. | Meanwhile police chiefs have said undercover officers from a Metropolitan police undercover unit, the Special Demonstration Squad, operated in Northern Ireland without informing local police. |
| Campaigners - headed by activist Jason Kirkpatrick - have threatened legal action to force the inquiry to be widened to Northern Ireland and Germany. | Campaigners - headed by activist Jason Kirkpatrick - have threatened legal action to force the inquiry to be widened to Northern Ireland and Germany. |
| On Wednesday, the BBC reported that the Northern Ireland government has called for the inquiry to be extended. | On Wednesday, the BBC reported that the Northern Ireland government has called for the inquiry to be extended. |
| The inquiry is due to start hearing evidence next year, according to an update of its work. | The inquiry is due to start hearing evidence next year, according to an update of its work. |
| In these blogs here and here, the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance has criticised the “geographic blinkers” imposed on the inquiry. | In these blogs here and here, the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance has criticised the “geographic blinkers” imposed on the inquiry. |