EN288
This article is part of the Undercover Research Portal at Powerbase - investigating corporate and police spying on activists
EN288 is the cipher given to a former undercover officer of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit who was deployed in the 2000s against unknown targets. Sir John Mitting, chair of the Undercover Policing Inquiry, has ruled that the Inquiry will restrict the officers real and cover name in the Inquiry.[1][2]
- For the EN cipher system see EN officers page.
As a police officer
As well as serving undercover during their deployment to the NPOIU, they also worked undercover for a number of years infiltrating seroius and organised crime groups who pose a risk to his life and family. They are also concerned that they will be subject to physical attack and direct action as a result of their 'involvement in domestic extremism deployments'.[3]
In the Undercover Policing Inquiry
- 14 August 2017: application for anonymity over real and cover names made.[4]
- In the course of a police career of significant length, EN288 was deployed on a number of occasions as an undercover officer in circumstances which gave rise to a real risk to life and limb. The risk to life from one of them remains and may engage Article 2 of the European Convention. The risk to safety from at least one other deployment also remains. Both risks engage Article 8. Publication of a cover name might prompt evidence from members of the groups against which EN288 was deployed who do not pose a risk to life or limb; and the risk of identification of the real name of EN288 is not great. However, even running a small risk would amount to a disproportionate and unjustified interference in the right of EN288 to respect for an aspect of private life - physical integrity - and, if Article 2 is engaged, would infringe it.
- 9 July 2018: Inquiry releases gisted versions of the restriction order application and personal witness statement for the officer[7] and Mitting directed that any submissions in response to these applications were to be made by 20 July 2018.[8]
- 30 October 2018: Mitting rules to restrict both real and cover names, writing:[9]
- The 'Minded to' note and this ruling are not based "on the basis of the officer's say so". The threat of serious physical harm was and is reliably established.
Notes
- ↑ 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 'Minded to' Note, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 2 May 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.
- ↑ Gisted witness statement of EN288, 20 July 2017, gisted version released by Undercover Policing Inquiry 9 July 2018.
- ↑ EN288 - Gisted summary of grounds of application, 14 Aug 2017, gisted version released by Undercover Policing Inquiry 9 July 2018.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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 'Minded to' Note, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 2 May 2018.
- ↑ NPOIU 'Minded to' officer's list of documents - published 09 July 2018, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 9 July 2018. See also associated press note: Publication of documents relating to anonymity applications: National Public Order Intelligence Unit & Special Demonstration Squad, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 9 July 2018.
- ↑ Sir John Mitting, Applications for restriction orders in respect of real and cover names of officers of the Special Operations Squad and the Special Demonstration Squad and of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit - Directions, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 3 July 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.
