HN332
This article is part of the Undercover Research Portal at Powerbase - investigating corporate and police spying on activists
HN332' is the cipher given to a former officer with the Special Demonstration Squad undercover policing unit, where he held a managerial role in the 1970s. In 2018, the Chair of the Undercover Policing Inquiry, John Mitting, has restricted the officer's real name on the grounds of ill health.[1] However, in October 2022 this order was revoked in the wake of his death[2][3] and his name revealed as Cameron Sinclair.
Cameron F. Sinclair was a Detective Chief Superintendent in Metropolitan Police Special Branch from circa 1973 to at least 1979 and possibly into 1980.[4]
- For the N cipher system see N officers page.
+++++ Last updated in Nov 2022 +++++
As an SDS officer
HN332 joined the Metropolitan Police in 1951 at the age of 20, joining Special Branch in 1967 with rank of Inspector.[5]
According to information released by the Inquiry:[6]
- HN332 worked in the SOS at its inception in a supervisory capacity for a short period. He returned in the early 1970s in an authorising or supervisory capacity. He remained in this capacity for several years during which time he was part of an SDS review.
- There is no known indication or allegation of wrong doing.
- No cover name is known.
- The MPS considers it unlikely that he ever deployed as a UCO. A member of HN332’s family believes he did deploy but came close to being compromised.
Retired from the police in the 1980s with rank Detective Chief Superintendent.[5]
In the Undercover Policing Inquiry
- Nov 2017 'Minded-To': restrict real name. Mitting stated:[7] Provisional decision (5 Mar 2018): restrict real and cover name with application to be heard on 21 March 2018.[8] Ruling (Mar 2018): Real name name cannot be published.[9]
- HN332 is in his eighties and in poor health. The Inquiry has been provided with a short medical report itemising the serious medical conditions from which he suffers, including one which is life-threatening. His daughter has provided a witness statement in which she says that he suffers from a very poor memory and from confusion. It must, therefore, be unlikely that he could provide useful evidence to the Inquiry.
- He served in the Special Operations Squad/Special Demonstration Squad in a managerial capacity in the 1970’s. He was the signatory of a significant memorandum dated 17 December 1971. But for his age and health, I would have refused the application for a restriction order in respect of his real name, on the basis that a senior public servant should be willing and, if not, required, to account for his actions publicly. For the reasons explained, no useful purpose would be served by adopting that course; and to do so would risk impairing the peace of mind and even health of a man in his twilight years. I am minded to make a restriction order which will be in place during his life.
May 2018: Mitting ruled that the real name would be restricted.[1]
Anonymity application documents
- Open application, Metropolitan Police, 17 October 2017.
- Gist of additional information supplied in ‘closed’ schedule to the open application
- Statement of daughter of HN332, 10 October 2017.
- Gist of letter provided to Inquiry from HN332’s General Practitioner 15 May 2017.
On 26 October 2022, the Inquiry revoked the anonymity order protecting HN332's name on the grounds that the officer had died. His family requested that the anonymity remained in order to protect the officer's reputation. Mitting however stated:[2]
- In those circumstances there is no good reason to shield the acts of a former operational manager of the Special Demonstration Squad from full public scrutiny.
Revocation of Anonymity documents (26 October 2022
- Applications for restriction orders in respect of the real and cover names of officers of the Special Operations Squad and the Special Demonstrations Squad, and those connected with these squads - Ruling 22.
- Revocation of a restriction order under Section 19 of the Inquiries Act 2005 - HN332
- Copy of the original anonymity order marked 'revoked'
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 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: Ruling, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 15 May 2018.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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 Demonstrations Squad, and those connected with these squads - Ruling 22, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 26 October 2022.
- ↑ Sir John Mitting, Revocation of a restriction order under Section 19 of the Inquiries Act 2005 - HN332, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 26 October 2022.
- ↑ Police and Constabulary Almanacs, R Maxwell & Sons, various years.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Gist of MPS Central Record of Service for HN332, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 1948-1979 (accessed via ucpi.org.uk as document MPS-0722810).
- ↑ Gist of additional information supplied in ‘closed’ schedule to the open application, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 6 April 2018, published 8 May 2018.
- ↑ 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).
- ↑ Press notice - Publication of documents relating to Special Demonstration Squad anonymity applications for hearing on 21 March 2018, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 5 March 2018.
- ↑ 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 officers of the Special Operations Squad and the Special Demonstration Squad Ruling 5 , Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI.org.uk), 27 March 2018.
