#undercover-policing

#undercover-policing

An undercover officer who deceived three women into sexual relationships said his superiors did nothing to prevent him from doing so, the spycops public inquiry has heard. Jim Boyling, who infiltrated environmental and animal rights activist groups for five years, said senior managers turned a blind eye to undercover officers having deceitful sexual relationships, often lasting years, with women. His managers adopted an attitude of don't ask, don't tell, he said. The three women have described how his betrayal devastated them.

The Metropolitan Police's covert Special Demonstration Squad spied on relatives who started a peaceful campaign called Justice for Ricky Reel in the belief he'd been murdered. David Hagen an officer known as HN81 gathered information about them and their supporters as they travelled nationwide trying to expose apparent failings in the original investigation. On one occasion, Hagen drove Mr Reel's mother Sukhdev from a McDonald's in Stratford back to the family home an address she wanted to keep private.

Undercover police officers are being deployed in the City of London to catch brazen shoplifters in the act at Christmas. Retail crime - said to cost the capital of 16.7million a month - will spike during the festive period. The Standard went out on patrol with Home Office minister Mike Tapp to see how covert units are cracking down on the scourge. Around 10am, a 40-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of theft from Boots on Moorgate.

Mark Jenner had a relationship with a leftwing activist, known as Alison, for five years without disclosing to her that he was in reality an undercover officer who was spying on political campaigners. During those years, he was married to his wife, who knew nothing about her husband's relationship with Alison. His wife gave birth to his child during this time. She became the first wife of an undercover officer to testify at the inquiry when she gave evidence on Tuesday.