Findings from the first part of a mammoth public inquiry into undercover policing were published on Thursday, covering the activities of the shadowy Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) between 1968 and 1982. But Sir John found key issues had not been considered, including long-term undercover deployments meaning intrusion into the personal lives of many hundreds of people, including entering their homes by deception. “The principal, stated purpose of the SDS was to assist uniformed police to control public order in London,” Sir John found. “I want to reassure the public that undercover policing has undergone radical reform over the years, with greater regulation, professional codes of practice, and judicial oversight. “The way in which undercover policing was conducted in the 1970s bears no relation to how it is conducted today.

Source: The Times June 29, 2023 10:59 UTC