Jeff Slater (alias)
This article is part of the Undercover Research Portal at Powerbase - investigating corporate and police spying on activists
Jeff Slater is the cover name used by a former undercover officer with the Special Demonstration Squad who over 1974-1975 was deployed into the International Socialists.[1] They were withdrawn less than one year into their deployment due to health reasons.
For the purposes of the Undercover Policing Inquiry and Operation Herne he is also referred to by the cipher HN351 (for the N cipher system see N officers). The Inquiry has ruled that the officer's real name will be restricted.[2]
As an SDS undercover officer
In the Undercover Policing Inquiry
- 20 March 2018: directed that any applications for anonymity were to be filed by 28 March 2018 by MPS legal team, or 6 April for the Designated Lawyers team.[3]
- 23 March 2018: application to restrict real name made by Metropolitan Police[4] (published 9 July 2018[5]).
- 26 April 2018: Minded to note indicates real name will be restricted, but cover name to be released. Sir John Mitting, Chair of the Inquiry, wrote:[6]
- HN351 is in his 70s... He was withdrawn from his deployment because of health problems of unclear origin. None of the members of the target group or their associates pose any threat to his safety. In 2016, he was diagnosed as suffering from an aggressive form of cancer. The cancer has responded well to treatment and may not have metastasised. He is concerned about the impact on him and his family of the disclosure of his real name. In the opinion of his treating consultant oncologist, it is not possible to link the anxiety and stress likely to be caused by publication of his real name to the progress of his condition. In her opinion, he can be expected to provide a witness statement without adverse impact on his health.
- Even though HN351 's concerns may not be objectively justified, I accept that they are genuine. There is no need to override them. Publication of his cover name, which will occur, may serve to prompt those who encountered him during his deployment to provide or give evidence about it. Publication of his real name could not do so. It is not necessary to permit the terms of reference of the Inquiry to be fulfilled. The interference which it would cause in HN351's right to respect for private and family life would be disproportionate and unjustified under Article 8(2) of the European Convention.
- 19 June 2018: cover name and target released.[1]
- 9 July 2018: provisional decision to restrict real name[7] and directed that any objections to Mitting's intention to restrict the real name to be made by 20 July 2018.[8]
- 30 July 2018: final ruling that HN351's real name will be restricted in the Inquiry.[9]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Email to core participants, '20180619_UCPI_to_all_CPs_HN65_HN351_HN354', Undercover Policing Inquiry, 19 June 2018, referencing an update of the webpage UCPI.org.uk/cover-names.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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, 20 March 2018.
- ↑ Open application for a restriction order (anonymity) re: HN351, Metropolitan Police Service, 23 March 2018, published 9 July 2018 via ucpi.org.uk.
- ↑ List of documents relating to SOS officers - published 09 July 2018, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 9 July 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 the Special Demonstrations Squad - 'Minded to' note 8, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 26 April 2018.
- ↑ 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, 9 July 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 12 and Ruling 10, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 30 July 2018.
