Help Victims of Police Spying Get Access to Justice
The Undercover Policing Inquiry was announced nearly four years ago and still has not begun. Around 200 significantly affected victims have been designated ‘core participants’. At the recent preliminary hearing, the state had 11 lawyers whilst the victims were only allowed one.
The Spy Cops Communications Group was established to help keep the core participants informed and to let the wider public know what is going on with the Inquiry.
Victims have to take time out of their lives and pay for their own costs to attend hearings and other vital meetings. This is adding to the imbalance of power, tilting the Inquiry to favour the police and other perpetrators who have access to effectively unlimited public funds.
The Spy Cops Communications Group had started a crowdfunder appeal to increase people’s access to justice in a practical way, through:
– Funding travel to attend meetings & hearings
– Offering legal support
– Providing fortnightly updates
They are aiming to raise £15,000 through this Crowd Justice Campaign so the spied-upon campaigners, and the public, can get the truth they deserve.
Please share the Crowdfunder link and, if you can afford it, donate too.
Background
The Home Office called the Inquiry in 2014 as result of pressure from people targeted by police spies, after campaigners exposed the level of police infiltration into political groups. The undercover operations invaded people’s lives, committing human rights abuses for decades. Systematic spying was aimed at controlling political dissent in the UK, undermining what should be a healthy democracy.
The police have admitted that they spied on more than 1,000 political groups including those campaigning for equality, justice, community empowerment and the environment, those fighting against war, racism, sexism, homophobia, government policies, corporate power, and police brutality.
The Inquiry offers a unique opportunity to hold the police and those responsible to account in the fight for transparency and justice. However, the process is obstructed by police intransigence and weighted down with legal jargon and processes. There is an urgent need to make it easier for people to get involved.
What we will do
£15,000 will enable us to:
- Fund travel and expenses to attend court hearings and meetings with lawyers
- Organise quarterly meetings to help core participants follow the Inquiry, and network with each other
- Maintain a secure online discussion forum to discuss interventions and submissions to the Inquiry
- Liaise with lawyers to keep taps on what is happening, and understand legal process
- Have a legal observer present at the hearings at all times
- Share a fortnightly email of legal information
- Provide media training and support people in engaging with the media.
- Prepare people for appearing in court and giving witness statements
Kim Bryan, Tom Fowler, Chris Dutton, Terence Evans, Emily Apple, Kirsty Wright, Paul Gravett, Morgana Reddy, Kirk, Jessica and Kevin Blowe.
Is it too late to submit evidence to this inquiry? I have experience several years of breakins, harassment, phone intercept etc since I attempted to bring a private prosecution against these criminals who attempted to frame me in a court case. These people are orhanised criminals finded bu the taxpayer…
Hi Heba,
The Inquiry has not started taking evidence yet, there have only been preliminary hearings.
It should be noted that it is concerned with the officers who infiltrated political campaigns (from the Special Demonstration Squad and National Public Order Intelligence Unit), rather than the much broader world of undercover policing.
Around 200 significantly affected people have been granted core participant status at the Inquiry.
If you feel your experience is relevant to the Inquiry you can contact them here:
Email: info@ucpi.org.uk
Telephone 0203 876 4750 or 0203 876 4760 Office hours Monday to Friday.
Postal address: UCPI, PO Box 71230, London NW1W 7QH