News

Baroness Lawrence slams Met chief over police secrecy

Monday, 18 April 2016

An impressive line up of speakers including politicians, activists and academics discussed the role and impact of undercover policing and the surveillance of protest groups and 'suspect communities' at our conference this weekend, organised in collaboration with The Monitoring Group.

Building on a hugely successful conference in 2015, participants at the conference explored the history and disastrous impact of the policing of social and justice movements. In light of the upcoming Undercover Policing Inquiry, the speakers and participants debated the crucial factors to ensuring the Inquiry adopts an open and rigorous approach. 

The Guardian highlights comments made by Baroness Doreen Lawrence who criticised Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Met police commissioner, saying he should be ashamed of himself for attempting to ensure that large parts of the 'public inquiry' into police spying be held private. Rob Evans' full report with more detailed comments from Baroness Lawrence can be read on The Guardian website here.

The Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell MP, also spoke, criticising the lack of democratic control, transparency and openness on policing operations. He recognised the need to continue campaigning and maintain pressure to ensure the Inquiry delivers answers.

Newsweek reported on calls from the conference that the Inquiry be held in public and the names of officers disclosed to ensure transparency.

The Morning Star also reports on newly discovered documents showing that undercover police officers infiltrated campaign groups protesting against deaths at work. It is also reported that undercover officers were attempting to gain information on campaigns against police brutality. 

A statement was also delivered from Piers Doggart, the Solicitor to the Undercover Policing Inquiry, a copy of which can be viewed on the Inquiry website.

Footage from all of the main plenary speeches will be available to view online soon.


About the conference:

This conference was co-organised by The Monitoring Group and the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies. It was supported by Imran Khan and Partners and Tottenham Rights. The conference was hosted by London South Bank University, School of Law and Social Sciences.

Speakers over the two days included (in order of appearance)

  • Tony Bunyan (Statewatch) 
  • Prof Mark McGovern
  • Colin Prescod (Institute of Race Relations)
  • John McDonnell MP (Shadow Chancellor)
  • Gareth Peirce (Birnberg Peirce) 
  • Becky Clarke (Manchester Metropolitan University) 
  • Muhbeen Hussain 
  • Suresh Grover (The Monitoring Group) 
  • Vakass Hussain and Abrar Javid (Support the Rotherham 12)
  • Baroness Doreen Lawrence 
  • Imran Khan (Imran Khan & Partners),
  • Kate Wilson (Police Spies Out of Lives) 
  • Stafford Scott (Tottenham Rights / The Monitoring Group)
  • Baroness Jenny Jones (The Green Party)
  • Helen Steel (Police Spies Out of Our Lives) 
  • Dave Smith (Blacklisted Trade Unionists)
  • Janet Alder (sister of Christopher Alder)
  • Alastair Morgan (brother of Daniel Morgan)
  • Sukhdev Reel (Mother of Ricky Reel)
  • Michael Mansfield QC
  • Courtenay Griffiths QC
  • A statement read out from Peter Francis (ex-SDS officer turned whistleblower)
  • Piers Doggart and Stephen Brown, members of the Undercover Policing Inquiry legal team

Workshops run by: Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance; Undercover Research Group; Blacklisted Trade Unionists; JENGbA