The Guardian has uncovered the identities of undercover officers who engaged in deceitful sexual relationships with members of the public while hiding their true identities. Many of these officers have not yet been investigated about their actions as part of the ongoing public inquiry into undercover policing.
Notably, several undercover officers are reported to have fathered, or are accused of fathering, children with women they met during their assignments:
1. Bob Lambert / ‘Bob Robinson’
Active among animal rights groups and anarchists from 1984 to 1989.
Bob Lambert engaged in relationships with four women without disclosing his marital status and undercover role. He fathered a son with a woman referred to as Jacqui, whom he left when the child was an infant. More than 20 years later, Jacqui learned of his undercover activities by chance through media reports.
The ordeal has left Jacqui traumatized, necessitating extensive therapy. She shared with the inquiry, “Every aspect of my life feels utterly shattered… I find it hard to live my life anymore.”
Another participant, Belinda Harvey, voiced her sorrow over having an 18-month relationship with Lambert, stating she felt “completely deceived and betrayed.”
Lambert, then in his 30s, misled women in their 20s, acknowledging they would not have consented if they had known his true identity.
2. Jim Boyling / ‘Jim Sutton’
Engaged in activities with Reclaim the Streets, Earth First!, and hunt saboteurs from 1995 to 2000.
Jim Boyling fathered two children with an activist named Rosa, whom he met in 1999 while undercover. After disappearing for a year, he resurfaced in 2001 and revealed his true identity. Rosa has recounted to the inquiry how he controlled her and isolated her from friends, culminating in her leaving for a women’s refuge. He denies any abusive behavior.
3. ‘Alan Bond’
Affiliated with the Socialist Workers Party from 1982 to 1985.
Another officer claimed that “Alan Bond” fathered a child with a campaigner, a fact alleged to be known by his colleagues. Bond has denied this, admitting only to a one-night stand with another woman while undercover.
4. ‘Jim Pickford’
Active in anarchist and community groups in south London from 1974 to 1976.
“Jim Pickford” met and married a woman using his false identity, and they had a child together. The inquiry revealed that his deployment was cut short due to his intention to confess his undercover status. A colleague labeled him a “sexual predator.” He has since passed away.
Several undercover officers engaged in sexual relationships while concealing their real identities:
5. Mark Kennedy / ‘Mark Stone’
Involved with environmental and left-wing groups from 2003 to 2009.
The precise number of women deceived by Kennedy into sexual relationships likely reaches double digits. He had a lengthy relationship with social justice campaigner Lisa Jones.
Jones uncovered Kennedy’s true identity in 2010, which triggered the spy cops scandal. Another campaigner named Kate Wilson was deceived by him, leading to a distressing two-year relationship. In a significant 2021 case, judges ruled that police had egregiously violated Wilson’s human rights.
6. ‘Lynn Watson’
Active in environmental and anti-nuclear movements from 2003 to 2008.
‘Lynn Watson’ was involved in a one-night stand with an activist during a protest at a Yorkshire power station in 2006, an encounter she instigated. While undercover, she participated in protests in amusing ways, such as running around Leeds dressed as a clown.
7. ‘Marco Jacobs’
Operated within the Cardiff Anarchist Network from 2004 to 2009.
‘Marco Jacobs’ formed sexual relationships with two activists; one trusted him implicitly and confided deeply personal matters. Upon discovering his true identity as an undercover officer, she experienced considerable distress.
8. ‘Rob Harrison’
Involved with the International Solidarity Movement and anti-war campaigns from 2004 to 2007.
A woman named Maya recounted how ‘Rob Harrison’ built an intimate relationship with her under false pretenses, later vanishing from her life only to reappear seven years later. He attempted to rekindle their romance and spent a night with her, disappearing again without a trace, leaving her fearful of an unwanted pregnancy.
9. Carlo Soracchi / ‘Carlo Neri’
Active with the Militant/Socialist party and anti-fascist groups from 2000 to 2006.
During a two-year relationship, Carlo Soracchi proposed marriage to activist Donna McLean, concealing his marital status and undercover role. Earlier in his deployment, he had also misled another woman, Lindsey, into a long-term relationship.
10. James Thomson / ‘James Straven’
Affiliated with the Animal Liberation Front and hunt saboteurs from 1997 to 2002.
Initially, Thomson denied any sexual relationships while undercover but later confessed to two, each lasting over a year. One of the women, Ellie, stated he contacted her in 2018 to disclose his true identity, asking her to delete their past communications.
11. Mark Jenner / ‘Mark Cassidy’
Connected to Anti-Fascist Action and activist groups focusing on police corruption from 1995 to 2000.
Living for five years with a leftist activist named Alison, whom he described as a partner, Jenner led a duplicitous life. The couple faced counseling due to differing desires about parenthood. In 2000, he abruptly left, using the excuse of mental health, causing Alison great emotional distress. Struggling to reconcile her feelings, she spent years seeking to learn about his true identity.
12. ‘Christine Green’
Operated within animal rights groups from 1994 to 1999.
The inquiry revealed that ‘Christine Green’ formed a relationship with an activist, ultimately disclosing her true identity during her deployment. Afterward, they maintained a romantic relationship and lived together in secluded locations in Cornwall and Scotland.
13. Peter Francis / ‘Peter Black’, ‘Peter Daley’
Involved with Youth Against Racism in Europe and other groups from 1993 to 1997.
Peter Francis is noted for being the only undercover officer to publicly reveal the covert monitoring of political factions, including efforts to push the police to revisit the investigation into the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence. While undercover, he admitted to having sexual relationships with two activists, viewing such actions as part of his role.
14. ‘Matt Rayner’
Engaged with animal rights groups from 1992 to 1996.
‘Matt Rayner’ maintained a two-year relationship with activist Denise Fuller, who testified that he took advantage of her vulnerabilities to establish the relationship, following her confiding deeply personal details to him. They spent significant time together, participating in various outings.
Rayner claimed his supervisors were aware of this relationship, indicating it was perceived as a grey area in terms of their operational conduct, neither encouraged nor explicitly prohibited.
15. Andy Coles / ‘Andy Davey’
Involved in animal rights groups, anarchist activities, and anti-military campaigns from 1991 to 1995.
One participant, Jessica, described her relationship with Andy Coles, who was then 31, as inappropriate given her young and naive age of 19. He has disputed her claims, yet the Metropolitan police support Jessica’s testimony and confirmed they documented an intimate relationship during 1992 and 1993.
16. Trevor Morris / ‘Anthony “Bobby” Lewis’, ‘Bobby McGee’
Connected to the Anti-Nazi League and Socialist Workers Party from 1991 to 1995.
During the public inquiry, Morris defended the actions of undercover officers and their deception of women. Though the Metropolitan police commissioner has issued an apology for the harm caused to these women, Morris labeled it “outrageous” and “unacceptable.” He admitted to a year-long relationship with a young mother and a one-night encounter with another.
17. John Dines / ‘John Barker’
Involved with anarchists and the Animal Liberation Front from 1987 to 1991.
John Dines misled environmental campaigner and McLibel defendant Helen Steel into a two-year relationship, during which she fell in love with him. The inquiry suggested he maintained this relationship solely for the sake of gathering intelligence on activist groups. The chief barrister termed Dines’ actions as “cold, calculating, and emotionally exploitative.”
18. ‘John Lipscomb’
Operating within animal rights campaigns, anarchist groups, and anti-poll tax movements from 1987 to 1990.
‘John Lipscomb’ confessed to “some sexual activity” involving four different women throughout his deployment.
19. Mike Chitty / ‘Mike Blake’
Actively engaged with animal rights groups from 1983 to 1987.
Mike Chitty maintained an 18-month relationship with activist Lizzie, and after concluding his undercover duties, he continued to socialize with the collective he had infiltrated under his previous identity. Despite attempts to rekindle the relationship, Lizzie’s trust in him eroded due to his repetitious disappearances.
20. ‘Mike Hartley’
Involved in the Revolutionary Communist group and Socialist Workers Party from 1982 to 1985.
“Mike Hartley” admitted to a “brief” sexual relationship with an activist within the Revolutionary Communist group. He has since passed away.
21. ‘Phil Cooper’
Active with the Socialist Workers Party, Right to Work campaign, and anti-nuclear activists from 1979 to 1984.
“Phil Cooper” initially confessed to the inquiry about sexual relationships with at least three female activists but later retracted his admission. The public inquiry concluded that he indeed engaged in “casual relationships” during his undercover operations.
22. Vince Harvey / ‘Vince Miller’
Affiliated with the Socialist Workers Party from 1976 to 1979.
Vince Harvey initially disclosed to the inquiry that he had one-night stands with four women while undercover. However, one of the women, Madeleine, challenged his story, stating their relationship lasted two months. The inquiry concluded in favor of Madeleine’s account.
23. HN21 – Identity kept confidential by the public inquiry
Involved with the Socialist Workers Party in the late 1970s to early 1980s.
The inquiry reported that he had “occasional sexual encounters” with two women but provided inconsistent testimony throughout the proceedings.
24. Richard Clark / ‘Rick Gibson’
Connected to Big Flame, a leftist group, and the Troops Out movement from 1975 to 1976.
The public inquiry discovered that Richard Clark had sexual relationships with “at least two and probably four” female activists. One of the women, Mary, noted, “The use of sex as a strategy is appalling, and it being a common tactic throughout the years is fundamentally wrong.”
A former colleague described Clark as a “womanizer and a carnivore.” His deployment concluded prematurely upon being recognized by Big Flame activists.
25. HN302 – Identity kept confidential by the public inquiry
Involved with unidentified leftist groups in the 1970s.
During a private session of the inquiry, the undercover agent reported having a brief sexual encounter with an activist but could not recall her name, making it impossible for the inquiry to trace her.
