HN59
This article is part of the Undercover Research Portal at Powerbase - investigating corporate and police spying on activists
HN59 is the cipher given to a former Special Demonstration Squad officer who performed back office duties for the unit in the late 1980s and early 1990s.[1] They had applied for a restriction order over their real name in the Undercover Policing Inquiry but this was refused by the Inquiry Chair, John Mitting.[2]
For the N cipher system see N officers page.
In the Undercover Policing Inquiry
- 11 Dec 2017: directed any application to be made by 20/22 December 2017.[3]
- 25 Jan 2018: No application to restrict real name made by Metropolitan Police's Commissioner Legal Team[4][5] so HN59's real name was to be given 'when evidence relating to them is published before hearings'.[6]
- 23 May 2018: an application to restrict real name was made by the MPS 'Designated Lawyers Team', but was refused following a closed hearing,[2][5] with Mitting writing:[1]
- It is not contended the performance of those duties has exposed HN59 to any risk to safety; nor, sensibly, could they have done so. HN59 has chronic health problems, but there is no suggestion or evidence that the disclosure of the real name would exacerbate them. HN59 maintains that, if informed that the real name might be published when invited to join the SOS, HN59 would have refused to join. I accept that, if HN59 had realised that where would be public interest in and concern about the SOS, that might have been the case; but I do not accept that HN59 had any cause to be concerned about disclosure of the real name in connection with SOS back office duties, when recruited; and I do not therefore accept HN59's contention.
- HN59 is understandably concerned about media interest and the possibility of intrusion into private and family life. Given the nature of the duties performed by HN59, these concerns are, I believe, misplaced. It is likely that HN59 will have some evidence to provide to the Inquiry which will assist it to fulfil its terms of reference. It is possible that the evidence which HN59 can provide can be given in the form of a witness statement only. That will depend upon its content.
- The submissions made to me by and on behalf of HN59 do not establish that the starting point that, in the public interest of openness, no restriction order will be made is displaced by the need to protect HN59 from harm. A short closed note, dealing with a discrete question, accompanies these reasons.
According to a note of 13 September 2018, The MPS Designated Lawyers applied to restrict the real name, which Mitting was minded to refuse. The officer was given a chance to pursue the application in a closed hearing, but they did not take up the offer. Thus, Mitting made a final ruling that the real name would be published by the Inquiry.[7]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 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 9 and Ruling 8, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 23 May 2018.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 'Minded to' decisions relating to anonymity applications: Special Demonstration Squad Ruling on HN122, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 23 May 2018.
- ↑ Applications for restriction orders in respect of the real and cover names of officers of the Special Operations Squad and the Special Demonstrations Squad: Directions, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 11 December 2017.
- ↑ 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 4, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 25 January 2018.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 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 name of officers of the Special Operations Squad and the Special Demonstration Squad - Update as at 30 July 2018, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 30 July 2018.
- ↑ Press Notice: Decisions relating to anonymity applications: Special Demonstration Squad, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 25 January 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.
