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Covert infiltration of key strike to be examined at public meeting next week Covert infiltration of Grunwick strike to be examined at public meeting
(about 1 hour later)
A public meeting next week will focus on how police covertly spied on a group of striking workers and their supporters.A public meeting next week will focus on how police covertly spied on a group of striking workers and their supporters.
The strike at Grunwick, a small photo-processing factory in north-west London, became one of the most well-known industrial disputes since the Second World War.The strike at Grunwick, a small photo-processing factory in north-west London, became one of the most well-known industrial disputes since the Second World War.
This article describes why the dispute in the 1970s - by mainly Asian women - made history and shattered stereotypes.This article describes why the dispute in the 1970s - by mainly Asian women - made history and shattered stereotypes.
Evidence is now emerging to show that a Scotland Yard undercover unit obtained inside information about the tactics and movements of the strikers and their backers.Evidence is now emerging to show that a Scotland Yard undercover unit obtained inside information about the tactics and movements of the strikers and their backers.
This article details some of what is known about the espionage. Two former police officers have said that the unit, the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), spied on the strike at a time when police were finding it extremely difficult to gather information about the dispute.This article details some of what is known about the espionage. Two former police officers have said that the unit, the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), spied on the strike at a time when police were finding it extremely difficult to gather information about the dispute.
The pair say that the SDS obtained up-to-date information about the likely tactics and size of demonstrations in support of the strikers.The pair say that the SDS obtained up-to-date information about the likely tactics and size of demonstrations in support of the strikers.
An undercover officer, who spent years pretending to be a left-wing activist, has described how he attended a key demonstration in which the miners - led by Arthur Scargill - showed their solidarity with the Grunwick strikers.An undercover officer, who spent years pretending to be a left-wing activist, has described how he attended a key demonstration in which the miners - led by Arthur Scargill - showed their solidarity with the Grunwick strikers.
This surveillance is just one part of the long-running undercover operation that has seen hundreds of groups infiltrated by police spies since 1968.This surveillance is just one part of the long-running undercover operation that has seen hundreds of groups infiltrated by police spies since 1968.
The public meeting - Spycops and Strikers: From Grunwick to Now - is due to take place on February 15 in central London. More details of the meeting can be found here.The public meeting - Spycops and Strikers: From Grunwick to Now - is due to take place on February 15 in central London. More details of the meeting can be found here.
Organisers of the meeting say that it will discuss how political policing is used to undermine campaigns, and will explore the historic and current impact of undercover policing and surveillance.Organisers of the meeting say that it will discuss how political policing is used to undermine campaigns, and will explore the historic and current impact of undercover policing and surveillance.
Documents cataloguing the police’s surveillance of the Grunwick dispute can be read here at the Special Branch Files Project, an online archive of declassified papers concerning the monitoring of political campaigners.Documents cataloguing the police’s surveillance of the Grunwick dispute can be read here at the Special Branch Files Project, an online archive of declassified papers concerning the monitoring of political campaigners.
Journalist Solomon Hughes is due to tell the meeting how he used the freedom of information act to obtain the documents about the Grunwick surveillance, but the police have since tried to keep them under wraps.Journalist Solomon Hughes is due to tell the meeting how he used the freedom of information act to obtain the documents about the Grunwick surveillance, but the police have since tried to keep them under wraps.
Another speaker is Eveline Lubbers, one of the main researchers in the Undercover Research Group, a resource on covert infiltration of political groups.Another speaker is Eveline Lubbers, one of the main researchers in the Undercover Research Group, a resource on covert infiltration of political groups.
Also speaking will be Harriet Wistrich, a lawyer from the Birnberg Peirce law firm who represents a group of women deceived into long-term relationships by undercover police.Also speaking will be Harriet Wistrich, a lawyer from the Birnberg Peirce law firm who represents a group of women deceived into long-term relationships by undercover police.
The meeting is being organised as part of the Grunwick 40 series of events to remember the strike, in co-operation with the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance, the Special Branch Files Project and the Undercover Research Group.The meeting is being organised as part of the Grunwick 40 series of events to remember the strike, in co-operation with the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance, the Special Branch Files Project and the Undercover Research Group.
• If you would like to pass on information in confidence, you can send a message via the Guardian’s SecureDrop service (see how here).• If you would like to pass on information in confidence, you can send a message via the Guardian’s SecureDrop service (see how here).