Edward David Jones (alias)
This article is part of the Undercover Research Portal at Powerbase - investigating corporate and police spying on activists
Edward David Jones, also known as Bob the Builder, Dave or Edge was the cover name of an undercover officer who served with the Special Demonstration Squad. From 2005-2007 they infiltrated London Rising Tide and the Camp for Climate Action at Drax (2006).
On 8 January 2019, their name and targets were released by the Undercover Policing Inquiry.[1]
He was given the cipher HN66 for the purposes of the Inquiry, which also noted he had the separate cipher EN327 as an NPOIU officer.[2] It was also noted that he "was deployed by both the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and the Special Demonstration Squad".[3]
As an Undercover officer
A profile is in preparation. It is of note that Jones overlapped with a number of other undercovers, particularly Mark Kennedy and Lynn Watson, both of whom were considerably involved in the 2006 Camp for Climate Action at Drax Power Station, Yorkshire. It is also of note that London Rising Tide was targeted by private security company Vericola in 2007.[4]
In the Undercover Policing Inquiry
- 15 January 2018. Full anonymity application delayed so minded to decision not reached.[5] HN66 granted more time to provide the Inquiry with information.[6]
- 7 March 2018. HN66 was apparently concerned his real name will be discovered if his cover name was released. The Chair of the Inquiry, Sir John Mitting, found the fears misplaced and overstated, and that if the real name was discovered, the principle impact would be media intrusion 'falling well short of harassment'. A closed note accompanied this reasoning. Mitting was thus 'minded to' that real name should not be published, but the application over cover name was refused 'to the extent that it would prohibit disclosure of the names by which HN66 was known to members of the groups targeted'.[7]
- 2 May 2018: the inquiry note Mitting's provisional decision on anonymity as:[3]
- The real name cannot be published. The application for a restriction order in respect of the cover name is refused to the extent that it would prohibit disclosure of the names by which EN327 was known by members of the groups targeted.
- 13 September 2018: Complete applications to restrict real and cover names received by the UCPI, and also responses to Mitting's Minded To of 7 March 2018 to restrict real name but publish cover name. Mitting has decided the cover name will be released, and a hearing held regarding the real name, with open application to be published and a date set for responding.[8]
- 30 October 2018: Mitting rules to restrict the real name and refuses application to restrict cover name.[9]
- 8 January 2019: cover name and target groups released.
Notes
- ↑ Email to core participants, '20190108-UCPI_to_all_CPs-publishing_HN66', Undercover Policing Inquiry, 8 January 2018, referencing update of the webpage UCPI.org.uk/cover-names.
- ↑ Press Notice: 'Minded to' note: applications for restriction orders in respect of real and cover names of officers of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and its predecessor/successor units, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 2 May 2018.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Steven Gray, Counsel to the Inquiry's Explanatory Note to accompany the Chairman's 'Minded To' Note 12 in respect of applications for restrictions over the real and cover name of officers of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and its predecessor/successor units, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 2 May 2018.
- ↑ 'keepcalmandcarryon', Spying company, Vericola Ltd, uncovered after incompetence, Indymedia (UK), 4 February 2011 (accessed 8 January 2018).
- ↑ Sir John Mitting, Applications for restriction orders in respect of the real and cover names of officers of the Special Operations Squad and the Special Demonstration Squad: 'Minded to' note 3, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 15 January 2018.
- ↑ Press notice - ‘Minded-to’ anonymity: Special Demonstration Squad Officers (HN13, HN296, HN304, HN339, HN340, HN354, HN356/124, HN61, HN819, HN109, HN9, HN66), Undercover Policing Inquiry, 15 January 2018.
- ↑ Sir John Mitting, In the matter of section 19(3) of the Inquiries Act 2005. Applications for restriction orders in respect of the real and cover names of officers of the Special Operations Squad and Special Demonstration Squad - 'Minded To' Note 5, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 7 March 2018.
- ↑ Kate Wilkinson, Counsel to the Inquiry's Explanatory Note to accompany the Chairman's 'Minded-To' Note 12 in respect of applications for restrictions over the real and cover names of officers of the Special Operations Squad and the Special Demonstration Squad, Undercover Public Inquiry, 13 September 2018.
- ↑ Sir John Mitting, Applications for restriction orders in respect of the real and cover names of officers of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and its predecessor/successor units Ruling 1 and 'Minded to' 2, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 30 October 2018.
