Who is involved
Find information on the individuals and organisations involved in the Undercover Policing Inquiry, including core participants, undercover police officers, and other witnesses.
For information on the Inquiry team, please see the ‘About’ page.
SECTIONS
Core participants
Core participants are individuals or organisations that are likely to have been significantly involved or affected by undercover policing in England and Wales. They can also be individuals or organisations that could be significantly impacted by the work of the Inquiry.
In some cases, core participants can have their reasonable legal costs paid.
There are currently 236 core participants, although some are unincorporated associations made up of multiple individuals.
Taking part
If you had contact with undercover officers or would like to discuss providing evidence to the Inquiry, you can get in touch with the Inquiry in confidence by:
- Emailing us at info@ucpi.org.uk
- Writing to us at PO Box 71230, London NW1W 7QH
- Giving us a call on 0203 876 4750 or 0203 876 4760.
It is not necessary to be a core participant to receive funding for legal costs or give evidence to the Inquiry. Further information on contacting the Inquiry and becoming a core participant can be found in the core participant guidance.
Police
Two undercover policing units – the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) and the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU) – have particular prominence for the Inquiry; however, other units across England and Wales also fall within its general remit.
SDS
The SDS was a covert unit that existed within the Metropolitan Police Service between 1968 and 2008.
Cover names
To date, the Inquiry has released the cover names of 69 undercover officers from the SDS. This is to enable members of the public to determine whether they were affected by undercover policing and come forward with evidence.
As with all participants in the Inquiry, officers have the right to request anonymity through a restriction order.
Cover names not subject to a restriction order continue to be published by the Inquiry once pre-publication checks have concluded.
| Herne nominal only | Herne nominal | Cover name(s) | Real name status | Cover name status | Deployment(s) | Dates active (start) | Dates active (end) | Decade active (start) | Person type | ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HN 1 | "Matt Rayner" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | London Boots Action Group/London Animal Action, Animal Liberation Front, West London Hunt Saboteurs | 1991 | 1996 | 1990 | Undercover police officer | 6,867 |
| 2 | HN 2 | "Andy Davey" | Unrestricted | Unrestricted (published) | London Boots Action Group/London Animal Action, Animal Liberation Front, Animal Liberation Front Support Group, London Animal Rights Coalition, Brixton Hunt Saboteurs | 1991 | 1995 | 1990 | Undercover police officer | 6,944 |
| 5 | HN 5 | "John Barker" | Unrestricted | Unrestricted (published) | Animal Liberation Front, London Greenpeace | 1987 | 1991 | 1980 | Undercover police officer | 6,945 |
| 10 | HN 10 | "Bob Robinson" | Unrestricted | Unrestricted (published) | London Greenpeace | 1984 | 1989 | 1980 | Undercover police officer | 6,946 |
| 104 | HN 104 | "Carlo Neri" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | No Platform/Antifa, Militant/the Socialist Party | 2000 | 2006 | 2000 | Undercover police officer | 6,947 |
| 106 | HN 106 | "Barry Tompkins" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Spartacist League of Britain | 1979 | 1983 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,948 |
| 11 | HN 11 | "Mike Blake" | Unrestricted | Unrestricted (published) | South London Animal Movement | 1983 | 1987 | 1980 | Undercover police officer | 6,949 |
| 118 | HN 118 | "Simon Wellings" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Globalise Resistance, International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party, Dissent! | 2001 | 2007 | 2000 | Undercover police officer | 6,950 |
| 12 | HN 12 | "Mike Hartley" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party, Revolutionary Communist Group | 1982 | 1985 | 1980 | Undercover police officer | 6,951 |
| 122 | HN 122 | "Neil Richardson" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Revolutionary Communist Party, Class War | 1989 | 1993 | 1980 | Undercover police officer | 6,952 |
| 126 | HN 126 | "Paul Gray" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party, Anti-Nazi League | 1977 | 1982 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,953 |
| 13 | HN 13 | "Desmond Loader", "Barry Loader" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Communist Party of England (Marxist-Leninist) | 1975 | 1978 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,954 |
| 14 | HN 14 | "Jim Sutton" | Unrestricted | Unrestricted (published) | Reclaim the Streets, Earth First!, Essex Hunt Saboteurs | 1995 | 2000 | 1990 | Undercover police officer | 6,955 |
| 15 | HN 15 | "Mark Cassidy" | Unrestricted | Unrestricted (published) | Colin Roach Centre, Anti-Fascist Action, Independent Working Class Association, Republican Forum, Red Action | 1995 | 2000 | 1990 | Undercover police officer | 6,956 |
| 155 | HN 155 | "Phil Cooper" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party | 1979 | 1983 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,957 |
| 16 | HN 16 | "James Straven"/"Kevin Crossland" | Unrestricted | Unrestricted (published) | Animal Liberation Front, Brixton and Croydon Hunt Saboteurs | 1997 | 2002 | 1990 | Undercover police officer | 6,958 |
| 18 | HN 18 | "Rob Harrison" | Unrestricted | Unrestricted (published) | Globalise Resistance, International Solidarity Movement, State of Emergency (aka State of Emergency Collective), No Borders | 2004 | 2007 | 2000 | Undercover police officer | 6,959 |
| 19 | HN 19 | "Malcolm Shearing" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Revolutionary Communist Party, Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist) | 1981 | 1985 | 1980 | Undercover police officer | 6,960 |
| 20 | HN 20 | "Tony Williams" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Revolutionary Communist Tendency, Direct Action Movement | 1978 | 1982 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,961 |
| 200 | HN 200 | "Roger Harris" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party | 1974 | 1977 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,962 |
| 218 | HN 218 | "Barry Morris" | Unrestricted | Unrestricted (published) | Vietnam Solidarity Campaign | 1968 | 1968 | 1960 | Undercover police officer | 6,963 |
| 25 | HN 25 | "Kevin Douglas" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Troops Out Movement | 1987 | 1991 | 1980 | Undercover police officer | 6,964 |
| 26 | HN 26 | "Christine Green" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Animal Liberation Front, West London Hunt Saboteurs, London Animal Action | 1994 | 1999 | 1990 | Undercover police officer | 6,965 |
| 296 | HN 296 | "Geoff Wallace" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party | 1975 | 1978 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,966 |
| 297 | HN 297 | "Rick Gibson" | Unrestricted | Unrestricted (published) | Troops Out Movement, Big Flame | 1974 | 1976 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,967 |
| 298 | HN 298 | "Michael Scott" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Young Liberals, Anti-Apartheid Movement, Workers Revolutionary Party | 1971 | 1976 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,968 |
| 3 | HN 3 | "Jason Bishop" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Reclaim the Streets, Earth First!, Disarm DSEi | 1998 | 2006 | 1990 | Undercover police officer | 6,969 |
| 301 | HN 301 | "Bob Stubbs" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party | 1971 | 1976 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,970 |
| 303 | HN 303 | "Peter Collins" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Workers Revolutionary Party | 1973 | 1977 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,971 |
| 304 | HN 304 | "Graham Coates" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party, Zero Collective, Anarchy Collective, Libertarian Anarchist Group | 1976 | 1979 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,972 |
| 321 | HN 321 | "William Paul Lewis" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Vietnam Solidarity Campaign, International Marxist Group | 1968 | 1969 | 1960 | Undercover police officer | 6,973 |
| 326 | HN 326 | "Douglas Edwards" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Anarchist groups, Independent Labour Party, Tri-Continental, Dambusters Mobilising Committee | 1968 | 1971 | 1960 | Undercover police officer | 6,974 |
| 329 | HN 329 | "John Graham" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Vietnam Solidarity Campaign, Revolutionary Socialist Students Federation | 1968 | 1969 | 1960 | Undercover police officer | 6,975 |
| 33 | HN 33/HN 98 | "Kathryn Lesley ( 'Lee') Bonser" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party, Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp | 1983 | 1987 | 1980 | Undercover police officer | 6,976 |
| 330 | HN 330 | "Don de Freitas" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Vietnam Solidarity Campaign | 1968 | 1968 | 1960 | Undercover police officer | 6,977 |
| 334 | HN 334 | "Margaret White" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Vietnam Solidarity Campaign | 1968 | 1968 | 1960 | Undercover police officer | 6,978 |
| 336 | HN 336 | "Dick Epps" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Vietnam Solidarity Campaign, International Marxist Group | 1969 | 1972 | 1960 | Undercover police officer | 6,979 |
| 339 | HN 339 | "Stewart Goodman" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party, Anti-Apartheid Movement | 1970 | 1971 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,980 |
| 340 | HN 340 | "Alan Nixon" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Marxist Group, Irish Solidarity Campaign | 1969 | 1972 | 1960 | Undercover police officer | 6,981 |
| 299 | HN 299/HN 342 | "David Hughes" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Troops Out Movement, International Marxist Group, Anti-Internment League | 1971 | 1976 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,982 |
| 343 | HN 343 | "John Clinton" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party | 1971 | 1974 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,983 |
| 344 | HN 344 | "Ian Cameron" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Anti-Internment League, Northern Minorities Defence Force | 1971 | 1972 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,984 |
| 345 | HN 345 | "Peter Fredericks" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Black Power movement, Operation Omega, Young Haganah | 1971 | 1971 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,985 |
| 347 | HN 347 | "Alex Sloan" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Irish National Liberation Solidarity Front | 1971 | 1971 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,986 |
| 351 | HN 351 | "Jeff Slater" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party | 1974 | 1975 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,987 |
| 353 | HN 353 | "Gary Roberts" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party, International Marxist Group | 1974 | 1978 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,988 |
| 354 | HN 354 | "Vince Miller" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party | 1976 | 1979 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,989 |
| 356 | HN 356/HN 124 | "Bill Biggs" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party | 1977 | 1982 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,990 |
| 43 | HN 43 | "Peter Johnson" "Peter Daley" "Peter Black" | Unrestricted | Unrestricted (published) | Youth Against Racism in Europe, Militant/the Socialist Party | 1993 | 1997 | 1990 | Undercover police officer | 6,991 |
| 44 | HN 44 | "Darren Prowse" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | British National Party | 2007 | 2007 | 2000 | Undercover police officer | 6,992 |
| 45 | HN 45 | "David Robertson" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Vietnam Solidarity Campaign, Banner Books | 1970 | 1973 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 6,993 |
| 56 | HN 56 | "Alan 'Nick' Nicholson" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | British National Party | 1990 | 1991 | 1990 | Undercover police officer | 6,994 |
| 60 | HN 60 | "Dave Evans" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party, London Animal Action, Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty | 1998 | 2005 | 1990 | Undercover police officer | 6,995 |
| 65 | HN 65 | "John Kerry" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament | 1980 | 1984 | 1980 | Undercover police officer | 6,996 |
| 66 | HN 66/EN 327 | "Edward David Jones", "Bob the Builder", "Edge", "Dave" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | London Rising Tide, Camp for Climate Action (Drax 2006) | 2005 | 2007 | 2000 | Undercover police officer | 6,997 |
| 67 | HN 67 | "Alan Bond" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party | 1981 | 1986 | 1980 | Undercover police officer | 6,998 |
| 68 | HN 68 | "Sean Lynch" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Vietnam Solidarity Campaign, Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association, Irish Civil Rights Solidarity Campaign, Sinn Féin (London) | 1968 | 1974 | 1960 | Undercover police officer | 6,999 |
| 77 | HN 77 | "Jaqueline Anderson" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Reclaim the Streets, Earth First!, WOMBLES | 2000 | 2005 | 2000 | Undercover police officer | 7,000 |
| 78 | HN 78 | "Anthony 'Bobby' Lewis" | Minded to restrict | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party, Anti-Nazi League | 1991 | 1995 | 1990 | Undercover police officer | 7,001 |
| 79 | HN 79 | "Ross 'RossCo' MacInnes" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | United British Alliance | 2007 | 2007 | 2000 | Undercover police officer | 7,002 |
| 80 | HN 80 | "Colin Clark" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party, Anti-Nazi League | 1977 | 1982 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 7,003 |
| 81 | HN 81 | "David Hagan" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party, Class War, Movement Against the Monarchy, Movement for Justice | 1996 | 2001 | 1990 | Undercover police officer | 7,004 |
| 82 | HN 82 | "Nicholas Green" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party, Red Action | 1982 | 1986 | 1980 | Undercover police officer | 7,005 |
| 85 | HN 85 | "Roger Thorley" | Unrestricted | Unrestricted (published) | Anarchist groups, Friends of Freedom Press Ltd | 1979 | 1984 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 7,006 |
| 88 | HN 88 | "Timothy Spence" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Stoke Newington and Hackney Defence Campaign, Hackney Campaign Against the Police Bill | 1983 | 1987 | 1980 | Undercover police officer | 7,007 |
| 89 | HN 89 | [To be published] | Unrestricted | Unrestricted (unpublished) | [To be published] | [not published] | Undercover police officer | 7,008 | ||
| 90 | HN 90 | "Mark Kerry" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party, City of London Anti-Apartheid Group | 1988 | 1992 | 1980 | Undercover police officer | 7,009 |
| 95 | HN 95 | "Stefan Wesolowski" | Unrestricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party | 1985 | 1988 | 1980 | Undercover police officer | 7,010 |
| 96 | HN 96 | "Michael James" | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party, Troops Out Movement | 1978 | 1983 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 7,011 |
| 300 | HN 300 | "Jim Pickford" (dec'd) | Restricted | Unrestricted (published) | Pavement Collective, Freedom Collective, Battersea and Wandsworth Trades Council Anti-Fascist Committee, Kingston Anarchist Association, Wandsworth Anarchist Workers Association / South London Anarchist Workers Association, Federation of London Anarchist Groups | 1974 | 1976 | 1970 | Undercover police officer | 7,049 |
NPOIU
In or around 1986, the Special Branch network set up the Animal Rights National Index (ARNI). The ARNI developed into the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU) in or around 1999. In or around 2010, the NPOIU merged with two other units to become the National Domestic Extremism Unit.
The NPOIU’s role was to manage all intelligence considered to relate to domestic extremism. Their work included carrying out undercover policing operations.
Four NPOIU officers did not pursue applications to restrict their cover names, and they have already been identified on the Inquiry website: “Mark Stone”/Mark Kennedy, “Lynn Watson”, “Rod Richardson” and “Marco Jacobs”.
Anonymity
The Inquiry aims to be as open and transparent as possible. The default position for all core participants and witnesses is that they do not receive any anonymity; however, they are all entitled to make applications. Applications could be made because:
- Some core participants – including people who have been deceived into relationships with officers – want their privacy respected.
- Exposure of identities could put individuals at a present and ongoing serious risk of injury, or in extreme cases, death, because of the nature of the deployments they have undertaken.
- Revealing identities could damage individuals or their family’s private life and contravene their human rights.
After considering applications, the Chairman makes a ruling on whether to grant or reject the application either in full or in part. If the application is successful, it will be followed by a restriction order, which is a protective measure under the Inquiries Act 2005.