HN15

From Powerbase
Revision as of 15:30, 7 January 2019 by Peter Salmon (talk | contribs)
Jump to: navigation, search


URG logo 1.png

This article is part of the Undercover Research Portal at Powerbase - investigating corporate and police spying on activists



Part of a series on
undercover police officers
'HN15' / Mark Jenner
Mark Jenner.jpg
Alias: Mark Cassidy
Deployment: 1995-2000
Unit:
Targets:
Colin Roach Centre, Anti-Fascist Action, Independent Working Class Association, Republican Forum, Red Action

HN15 is the cipher given to a former Special Demonstration Squad] undercover officer. On 5 April 2018, it was announced that HN15 was known undercover Mark Cassidy, though it did not admit the real name, which had been in the public domain since 2011 as Mark Jenner.[1]

For the N cipher system see N officers page.

As an SDS officer

HN15 is noted in the Independent Stephen Lawrence Review by Mark Ellison, QC, where they are mentioned by Bob Lambert as an SDS undercover who 'would have involvement in Stephen Lawrence campaign issues' (page 214).[2]

In the Undercover Policing Inquiry

HN15 is a core participant in the Inquiry, and is represented by the firm of Slater & Gordon.

Timeline

  • March 2016: an application by NH15's lawyers to restrict real and cover names were released. The lawyers subsequently notified the Inquiry that a supplement to the application may be made on receipt of a final risk assessment from the MPS. The Inquiry has also received additional evidence, but was awaiting the further application before publishing anything. There was no restriction order application made by the Metropolitan Police.[3] The March 2016 application documents made public were: personal statement (gisted), open application, draft order and risk assessment (gisted).
  • August 2017: Inquiry says it needed more details before making a decision.[4][5]
  • November 2017, the Inquiry Chair, John Mitting, noted:[6]
I am minded to refuse to make a restriction order in respect of either real or cover name. A closed hearing is required to permit HN15 to make submissions in support of either or both applications. If I were to state the reasons for the decisions which I am minded to make openly and/or if HN15 were to make submissions openly it would so undermine the applications as to deprive them of purpose.
  • December 2017: a press release of 20 December said that closed hearing in on HN15's anonymity application had taken place and that Mitting had refused the application for both cover and real names of the officer. A ruling to this effect would be released in the New Year.[7][8]
  • March 2018: noted it was the inquiry's intention that the real and cover names would be released in due course.[9]
  • 5 April 2018: Inquiry reveals that HN15 was Mark Cassidy, who had been undercover in left wing, anti-fascist, trade union and community justice groups in north London 1995-2000.[1] It did not note his real name, Mark Jenner, though that has been in the public domain since 2011. On 11 April 2018, Mitting handed down his ruling rejecting the applications for both cover and real names to be restricted, but noted if Jenner's name had not already been in the public domain and known to have engaged in a relationship, he would have kept both cover and real name secret. It also noted that HN15 now admitted the relationship with 'Alison'.[10]
  • 13 September 2018: "real name will be published where it appears in the evidence in due course". [11]

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Undercover Policing Inquiry, Cover Names, update on 5 April 2018; also via notification by email to core participants of same date, unpublished.
  2. Mark Ellison, Possible corruption and the role of undercover policing in the Stephen Lawrence case, Stephen Lawrence Independent Review, Vol. 1, Gov.UK, March 2014
  3. David Barr & Kate Wilkinson, Counsel to the Inquiry's explanatory note to accompany the 'Minded to' note 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 Policing Public Inquiry (UCPI.org.uk), 3 August 2017 (accessed 5 August 2017).
  4. Press Release: 'Minded to' note, ruling and directions in respect of anonymity applications relating to former officers of the Special Demonstration Squad, Undercover Policing Public Inquiry (UCPI.org.uk), 3 August 2017 (accessed 3 August 2017).
  5. 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 the Special Demonstrations Squad ‘Minded to’ note, Undercover Policing Public Inquiry (UCPI.org.uk), 3 August 2017 (accessed 5 August 2017).
  6. 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 the Special Demonstrations Squad ‘Minded to’ note 2, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 14 November 2017 (accessed 15 November 2017)
  7. Press Notice: Decisions relating to anonymity applications: Special Demonstration Squad - HN15, HN58 and HN104 "Carlo Neri", Undercover Policing Inquiry", 20 December 2017.
  8. Sir John Mitting, Directions following closed hearings for HN15, HN58 and HN104, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 20 December 2017 (accessed 3 February 2018 via UCPI.org.uk).
  9. Kate Wilkinson, Counsel to the Inquiry's Explanatory Note to accompany the Chairman's 'Minded-To' Note 5 in respect of applications for restrictions over the real and cover names of officers of the Special Demonstration Squad and the Special Demonstration Squad - Update as at 7th March 2018, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 7 March 2018.
  10. Sir John Mitting, In the matter of Section 19(3) of the Inquiries Act 2005: Application for restriction order in respect of the real and cover names of HN15 - Ruling, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 11 April 2018 (accessed 11 April 2018).
  11. 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.