5 Aug 2019
The Inquiry is led by Sir John Mitting, a former high court judge. It is independent of government and the bodies it is investigating. The Inquiry is supported by legal representatives, civil servants and contractors.
Starting in November 2020, a series of evidence hearings are taking place. Former police officers, those who managed them, and those affected by their conduct, will be called to give evidence.
Sir John will then produce an interim report that will contain his factual findings and conclusions on the evidence heard in modules one and two.
There are three modules to the Inquiry’s investigations:
- Module one – Examination of the deployment of undercover officers in the past, their conduct, and the impact of their activities on themselves and others.
- Module two – Examination of the management and oversight of undercover officers, including their selection, training, supervision, care after the end of an undercover deployment, and the legal and regulatory framework within which undercover policing was carried out. Module two (a) will involve managers and administrators from within undercover policing units. Module two (b) will involve senior managers higher in the chain of command as well as police personnel who handled intelligence provided by undercover police officers. Module two (c) will involve a number of other government bodies with a connection to undercover policing, including the Home Office.
- Module three – Examination of current undercover policing practices and of how undercover policing should be conducted in future.
The final report will follow the conclusion of module 3, which will set out the Inquiry’s conclusions and recommendations for the future of undercover policing.