19 Apr 2022

Today, the Inquiry has published the draft list of issues (PDF, 97.62 KB) it intends to use to direct and focus its investigation into police management of the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) by officers more senior than those leading the SDS, and the dissemination of information reported by SDS undercover police officers beyond the SDS.

A consultation on the list will open on 23 May 2022, after the Inquiry’s upcoming Tranche 1 (Phase 3) hearings have concluded. The consultation will run for six weeks, closing at 4 PM on 1 July 2022. The Inquiry invites core participants to make submissions during this period.

This list builds on those that have already been published for the SDS that cover Module One (the deployment of undercover officers, their conduct and the impact of their activities on themselves and others) and Module Two (a) (managers and administrators within the SDS). The list published today covers the Module Two (b) investigations into the SDS and includes a variety of topics, such as:

  • The dissemination of SDS reporting;
  • Senior managers’ knowledge of and attitudes towards officers’ conduct while undercover;
  • Whistleblowing;
  • Management of post-deployment conduct;
  • The welfare of undercover officers and their families; and
  • Interaction with the Security Service.

In total, the Inquiry has previously published four issues lists.

Issues lists still to be published include those covering the Module Two (a) and Module Two (b) investigations into the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU) and the Inquiry’s Module Two (c) investigation into other government bodies with a connection to undercover policing, including the Home Office.

Issues lists do not prevent the Inquiry from investigating any further areas of interest, provided that they fall within the Terms of Reference (PDF, 84.0KB).

Background

Special Demonstration Squad (SDS)

The SDS was a specialist unit that existed within the Metropolitan Police Service between 1968 and 2008.

Because of its relatively historic nature, many former SDS officers are now retired or deceased, and some were deployed against groups that no longer exist.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Further background to the Inquiry can be found on the ‘About’ page of the Inquiry website.

The Undercover Policing Inquiry is constituted under the Inquiries Act 2005

The Inquiry’s Terms of Reference were announced by the Home Secretary on 16 July 2015.

The Inquiry’s ‘FAQs’ page provides more information on the Inquiry more generally, as do its published update notes.

For further information, please contact the Inquiry’s communications team:

Email: [email protected]

Tel:     07585 908612