BLACKLIST campaigners have called for the Public Inquiry into undercover police spying on the the Lawrence family to be given a wide enough remit to investigate police collusion with blacklisting. Despite documentary evidence proving beyond doubt that undercover police officers were linked to blacklisting there was no mention of this in the statement made by Theresa May to MPs.
On the very same day that the Home Secretary announced a public inquiry into the activity of Special Demonstration Squad officers spying on the Lawrence family, Operation Herne has published its 2nd report into the actions of undercover police officers. Blacklist victims condemned as a whitewash the non-findings of the police report into police collusion in the blacklist conspiracy, which describes police discussions with blacklisting organisations as driven by 'civic duty'.
Blacklist Support Group statement:
'The Operation Herne report demonstrates exactly why victims of undercover police surveillance have no faith in the police investigating themselves. There is already irrefutable evidence in the public domain that officers from undercover police units actually attended secret Consulting Association blacklist meetings, yet this is not even mentioned by Herne. Undercover Special Demonstration Squad officers are known to have posed as construction workers and infiltrated picket lines and union meetings. Information on some blacklist files could only have come from the police or the security services. In relation to police collusion in blacklisting, the Operation Herne 2nd Report is a complete whitewash.
'Only a fully independent public inquiry into the full extent of police links with corporate spying will expose the undemocratic shady practices. Any public inquiry should not be narrowly focused on the Lawrence case but should encompass the sexual relationships with female activists, Hillsborough, environmental and anti-racist campaigners, blacklisting and police collusion with big business.
'There are secret political police in the UK - they are called Special Branch, MI5 and GCHQ. They spy on their own citizens who are involved in perfectly lawful political campaigning. We will continue to fight until we achieve justice'.
www.derbyshire.police.uk/Documents/About-Us/Herne/Operation-Herne---Report-2---Allegations-of-Peter-Francis.pdf
Allegation - SDS supplied intelligence to ‘The Blacklist’
On 18 August 2013 in The Guardian, Peter Francis claimed that he gathered intelligence on Trade Union Activists and passed it to a ‘black listing agency’. He claimed that he provided information regarding two specific individuals and that their details subsequently appeared on the ‘list’.
The first notification received by the MPS into allegations of blacklisting stem from a complaint from Christian Khan Solicitors in November 2012. This was made on behalf of the Blacklist Support Group. They allege that the MPS, Special Branch (including SDS) were complicit in the supply of information to the Consulting Association and similar organisations. They asserted that this practice led to people being unable to obtain employment. The allegation was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and initially they supervised the investigation. Between May and June 2013, they reviewed this decision and directed a local investigation, returning it to force to investigate.
The ‘Blacklist’ maintained at that time by a commercial enterprise known as The Consulting Association was a record of individuals believed to have disruptive or subversive stance that could adversely affect the workplace. There is no dispute that individuals named by Peter Francis appear on the ‘blacklist’. However, Peter Francis claims to have been deployed between 1993 and 1997. The Consulting Association record is dated from 1999, two (2) years after Peter Francis’ claimed deployment ceased.
There is no available evidence to suggest that SDS exchanged any information with either the Economic League or the Consulting Association. Twenty (20) test records have been highlighted by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as being the most likely to be the result of police information. These records have been investigated, revealing numerous alternative sources for information. A Special Branch officer stated in interview ‘The flow of information was purely one way’ the Economic League were a ‘conduit of information’ driven by their sense of ‘civic duty’.
The Economic League was treated as a source of information. It was not Special Branch policy to pass information to them or any other external organisation. There is no evidence that any information regarding the two individuals was ever shared with the Consulting Association.
Allegation - The SDS supplied intelligence to ‘The Blacklist’
20.1 Blacklisting was the recording and management of a list of people identified due to their political stance or perceived disruptive/subversive activity within the workplace. This was maintained by a commercial enterprise known as the Economic League (EL), which closed in 1993. The Consulting Association (CA) was started by a former employee of Economic League’s Services Group around this time. Both organisations were funded and supplied with information by subscribing member companies, and checked their records in order to make informed decisions regarding suitability for employment.
On 18 August 2013 in The Guardian, Peter Francis claimed that he gathered intelligence on Trade Union Activists and passed it to a ‘black listing agency’. He claimed that he provided information regarding two specific individuals and that their details subsequently appeared on the ‘list’.
The first notification received by the MPS into allegations of blacklisting stem from a complaint from Christian Khan Solicitors in November 2012. This was made on behalf of the Blacklist Support Group. They allege that the MPS and Special Branch (including SDS) were complicit in the supply of information to the Consulting Association and similar organisations. They asserted that this practice led to people being unable to obtain employment. In February 2013 the allegation was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) who initially elected to supervise the investigation. Between May and June 2013, they reviewed this decision and directed a local investigation, returning it to force to investigate.
Open source material was recovered and a number of key documents identified. It was established that the Scottish Affairs Select Committee (SASC) had previously held an investigation into the wider issue of blacklisting, in which many of the key stakeholders had given evidence. All of their discussions were published on the UK Parliamentary website.
In sworn testimony to SASC, a member of the Consulting Association stated that his organisation had no link to the police, although he admitted that its predecessor the Economic League did. The Economic League link was confirmed by a former head of intelligence for the group, who stated that he met various police officers on a relatively regular basis, but that any such discussions would not routinely involve individuals.
Much of the media coverage has focused on a statement from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), in which it was claimed that much of the information could only have come from the police and security service. On request, the ICO have provided a copy of the seized blacklist and corresponding personal records.
There is no dispute that the individuasl named by Peter Francis appear on the blacklist. However, Peter Francis claims to have been deployed between 1993 and 1997. The CA record is dated from 1999, two (2) years after Peter Francis alleged deployment ceased.
SO15 records show one documented instance of the exchange of information between Special Branch and Economic League, dating from 1978. This related to a police enquiry about terrorism offences. The officer-in-the-case inadvertently disclosed the terrorism link to emphasise the importance of the inquiry. The Economic League recorded this disclosure as fact, leading to the individual being refused work at a later stage. A complaint was made which was investigated and subsequently corrected. This complaint was brought to the attention of both Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations and the Home Office. This incident was widely reported in 1981, subject to newspaper reports and a Panorama programme.
On 3 November 1978, Special Branch issued a Memorandum to all officers in relation to the disclosure of information and how seriously they regarded it. It reiterated Metropolitan Police Standing Orders, Paragraph 13 that prohibited searches of Special Branch on behalf of commercial organisations. It also documented that such ‘improper’ disclosure constituted a disciplinary offence. This memo came directly from the then Head of Special Branch.
20.2 Conclusions Operation Herne has established that the individuals identified by Peter Francis appear on the blacklist. However, Peter Francis claims to have been deployed between 1993 and 1997. The CA record is dated from 1999, two (2) years after Peter Francis alleged deployment ceased.
There is no evidence to suggest that SDS exchanged any information with either the Economic League or the Consulting Association. Twenty (20) test records have been highlighted by the ICO as being the most likely to be the result of police information. These records have been investigated, revealing numerous alternative sources for information. A Special Branch officer has stated in interview that, ‘The flow of information was purely one way’ the Economic League were a ‘conduit of information’ driven by their sense of ‘civic duty’. The Economic League was treated as a source of information. It was not Special Branch policy to pass information to them or any other external organisation. There is no evidence that any information reported by SDS operatives was ever shared with the Consulting Association.
The investigation into this matter continues and will be subject of reporting to both the complainants and the Commissioner.
Allegation - SDS supplied intelligence to ‘The Blacklist’
On 18 August 2013 in The Guardian, Peter Francis claimed that he gathered intelligence on Trade Union Activists and passed it to a ‘black listing agency’. He claimed that he provided information regarding two specific individuals and that their details subsequently appeared on the ‘list’.
The first notification received by the MPS into allegations of blacklisting stem from a complaint from Christian Khan Solicitors in November 2012. This was made on behalf of the Blacklist Support Group. They allege that the MPS, Special Branch (including SDS) were complicit in the supply of information to the Consulting Association and similar organisations. They asserted that this practice led to people being unable to obtain employment. The allegation was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and initially they supervised the investigation. Between May and June 2013, they reviewed this decision and directed a local investigation, returning it to force to investigate.
The ‘Blacklist’ maintained at that time by a commercial enterprise known as The Consulting Association was a record of individuals believed to have disruptive or subversive stance that could adversely affect the workplace. There is no dispute that individuals named by Peter Francis appear on the ‘blacklist’. However, Peter Francis claims to have been deployed between 1993 and 1997. The Consulting Association record is dated from 1999, two (2) years after Peter Francis’ claimed deployment ceased.
There is no available evidence to suggest that SDS exchanged any information with either the Economic League or the Consulting Association. Twenty (20) test records have been highlighted by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as being the most likely to be the result of police information. These records have been investigated, revealing numerous alternative sources for information. A Special Branch officer stated in interview ‘The flow of information was purely one way’ the Economic League were a ‘conduit of information’ driven by their sense of ‘civic duty’.
The Economic League was treated as a source of information. It was not Special Branch policy to pass information to them or any other external organisation. There is no evidence that any information regarding the two individuals was ever shared with the Consulting Association.
Allegation - The SDS supplied intelligence to ‘The Blacklist’
20.1 Blacklisting was the recording and management of a list of people identified due to their political stance or perceived disruptive/subversive activity within the workplace. This was maintained by a commercial enterprise known as the Economic League (EL), which closed in 1993. The Consulting Association (CA) was started by a former employee of Economic League’s Services Group around this time. Both organisations were funded and supplied with information by subscribing member companies, and checked their records in order to make informed decisions regarding suitability for employment.
On 18 August 2013 in The Guardian, Peter Francis claimed that he gathered intelligence on Trade Union Activists and passed it to a ‘black listing agency’. He claimed that he provided information regarding two specific individuals and that their details subsequently appeared on the ‘list’.
The first notification received by the MPS into allegations of blacklisting stem from a complaint from Christian Khan Solicitors in November 2012. This was made on behalf of the Blacklist Support Group. They allege that the MPS and Special Branch (including SDS) were complicit in the supply of information to the Consulting Association and similar organisations. They asserted that this practice led to people being unable to obtain employment. In February 2013 the allegation was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) who initially elected to supervise the investigation. Between May and June 2013, they reviewed this decision and directed a local investigation, returning it to force to investigate.
Open source material was recovered and a number of key documents identified. It was established that the Scottish Affairs Select Committee (SASC) had previously held an investigation into the wider issue of blacklisting, in which many of the key stakeholders had given evidence. All of their discussions were published on the UK Parliamentary website.
In sworn testimony to SASC, a member of the Consulting Association stated that his organisation had no link to the police, although he admitted that its predecessor the Economic League did. The Economic League link was confirmed by a former head of intelligence for the group, who stated that he met various police officers on a relatively regular basis, but that any such discussions would not routinely involve individuals.
Much of the media coverage has focused on a statement from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), in which it was claimed that much of the information could only have come from the police and security service. On request, the ICO have provided a copy of the seized blacklist and corresponding personal records.
There is no dispute that the individuasl named by Peter Francis appear on the blacklist. However, Peter Francis claims to have been deployed between 1993 and 1997. The CA record is dated from 1999, two (2) years after Peter Francis alleged deployment ceased.
SO15 records show one documented instance of the exchange of information between Special Branch and Economic League, dating from 1978. This related to a police enquiry about terrorism offences. The officer-in-the-case inadvertently disclosed the terrorism link to emphasise the importance of the inquiry. The Economic League recorded this disclosure as fact, leading to the individual being refused work at a later stage. A complaint was made which was investigated and subsequently corrected. This complaint was brought to the attention of both Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations and the Home Office. This incident was widely reported in 1981, subject to newspaper reports and a Panorama programme.
On 3 November 1978, Special Branch issued a Memorandum to all officers in relation to the disclosure of information and how seriously they regarded it. It reiterated Metropolitan Police Standing Orders, Paragraph 13 that prohibited searches of Special Branch on behalf of commercial organisations. It also documented that such ‘improper’ disclosure constituted a disciplinary offence. This memo came directly from the then Head of Special Branch.
20.2 Conclusions Operation Herne has established that the individuals identified by Peter Francis appear on the blacklist. However, Peter Francis claims to have been deployed between 1993 and 1997. The CA record is dated from 1999, two (2) years after Peter Francis alleged deployment ceased.
There is no evidence to suggest that SDS exchanged any information with either the Economic League or the Consulting Association. Twenty (20) test records have been highlighted by the ICO as being the most likely to be the result of police information. These records have been investigated, revealing numerous alternative sources for information. A Special Branch officer has stated in interview that, ‘The flow of information was purely one way’ the Economic League were a ‘conduit of information’ driven by their sense of ‘civic duty’. The Economic League was treated as a source of information. It was not Special Branch policy to pass information to them or any other external organisation. There is no evidence that any information reported by SDS operatives was ever shared with the Consulting Association.
The investigation into this matter continues and will be subject of reporting to both the complainants and the Commissioner.
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