John Lipscomb (alias)
This article is part of the Undercover Research Portal at Powerbase - investigating corporate and police spying on activists
John Lipscomb is the cover name given to a former Special Demonstration Squad undercover officer who was deployed in the following group between 1987 and 1990: 'Brixton Anti-Poll Tax Group / Brixton Anarchist Community (Sudbourne Road Squat),Brixton Hunt Saboteurs, Bromley Animal Rights Group, Croydon Animal Aid, Hither Green Hunt Saboteurs, Sidcup Hunt Saboteurs,South London Animal Aid'.[1] The name and the groups he was deployed in were released by the Inquiry on the 23 Feburary 2022.[2] He was previoulsy know only by the HN87 cipher given to him by the Herne Inquiry.[3]
As of 24 Feburary 2022 investigations by the Undercover Reseach Group are ongoing into the details of his deployment. If anyone has any infomation regarding this officer please contact the Undercover Research Group: here, PGP available on request.
The chair of the Undercover Policing Inquiry, John Mitting, has previously ruled that the real and cover name will be restricted in the Inquiry[4] on health grounds.[5]
For the N cipher system see N officers page.
As an SDS undercover
Held sensitive posts before joining the SDS. Does not recall who recruited them to that unit, and there was no psychometric testing. Initially spent time in back office. One of the groups infiltrated 'was violent in outlook' and HN87 believes one individual there presents an ongoing threat. They were not arrested, though were stopped while driving and asked to produce documents. Another part of the risk assessment states:[6]
- N87 was considered as part of a potential miscarriage of justice that may have occurred when a number of activists were arrested for property offences but appears not to have been involved.
Joined Special Branch in 1970s and said:[3]
- I signed the Official Secrets Act which I have respected and I expected my employer to do the same. It was made clear on joining Special Branch that the whole branch was very confidential.
- I was not given an express promise of confidentiality but the whole set up of Special Branch, the act that the SOS was a secret group operating from covert premises, and the process to obtain a covert identity made it clear that both myreal and cover identity would be protected. I would not have agreed to do the role if I thought that my identity would be revealed.
Says they did not have any sexual relationships when deployed.[3]
The risk assessment notes:[6]
- In relation to welfare and support N87 states that s/he tended to 'just get on with it'. Most of N87's colleagues would have been supportive. N87 did not request or require input when s/he was deployed.
Retired from police in 2000s and has moved onto other careers.[3]
The risk assessor places threat of harm from as low if cover or real name is revealed.[6]
In the Undercover Policing Inquiry
- 19 April 2018: Directed to file anonymity application by 24/27 April 2018.[7]
- 23 May 2018: Inquiry Chair, John Mitting, stated he was minded to restrict the real and cover names[8] for reasons which cannot be made public.[8][5]
- 9 July 2018: provisional decision by Mitting to restrict real and cover names,[9] with application material being released:[10]
- Open application for a restriction order (anonymity) re: HN87, Metropolitan Police Service, real name only, 23 April 2018.
- Open application for a restriction order (anonymity) in respect of HN87's real name and cover name, MPS 'Designated Lawyers Team', 1 May 2018.
- Impact Statement of HN87, 27 April 2018.
- N87 - Risk Assessment, 12 June 2018 (David Reid).
- It was also directed that any objections to Mitting's intention to grant the restriction order to be made by 20 July 2018.[11]
- 30 July 2018: Mitting rules the real and cover names of HN87 will be restricted in the Inquiry.[4]
- 11 November 2021 Mitting revokes restrciton order regarding cover name - 'due to change in personal circumstances'.<ref="mitting.ruling.20.11Nov2021" John Mitting,Ruling 20 Undercover Policing Inquiry,11 November 2021.</ref>
- 23 Feburary 2022 Inquiry Publishe Cover Name and Groups Targeted.[1]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 HN87 Undercover Policing Inquiry.
- ↑ Undercover Policing Inquiry John Lipscomb, Twitter (23 Feburary 2022).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 'HN87', HN87 Impact Statement, Metropolitan Police Service, 27 April 2017, published 9 July 2018 via ucpi.org.uk.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 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 Demonstration Squad: Minded to note 12 and Ruling 10, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 30 July 2018.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 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.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 David Reid, N87 - Risk Assessment, Metropolitan Police Service, 12 June 2018, published 9 July 2018 via ucpi.org.uk.
- ↑ 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: Directions, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 19 April 2018.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 'Minded to' decisions relating to anonymity applications: Special Demonstration Squad Ruling on HN122, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 23 May 2018.
- ↑ Publication of documents relating to anonymity applications: National Public Order Intelligence Unit & Special Demonstration Squad, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 9 July 2018.
- ↑ List of documents relating to SOS officers - published 09 July 2018, 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.
