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This article is part of the Undercover Research Portal at Powerbase - investigating corporate and police spying on activists

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Part of a series on undercover police officers
'HN78'
Alias:	Anthony "Bobby" Lewis
Deployment:	1991-1995
Unit:	Special Demonstration Squad
Targets:	Socialist Workers Party, Anti-Nazi League, Stephen Lawrence family justice campaign.

Anthony "Bobby" Lewis is the alias of a Special Demonstration Squad undercover officer who infiltrated the Socialist Workers Party and Anti-Nazi League form 1991 to 1995, and was very active in campaigns countering British National Party activities in East London. He also targeted the family justice campaign for black teenager Stephen Lawrence, victim of a racist murder in 1993.

The officer is referred to by the cipher HN78 for the purposes of the Undercover Policing Inquiry and Operation Herne (for details of the N-numbers cipher system see the N officers page). He also makes an appearance in the Stephen Lawrence Independent Review (the 'Ellison Review') under this cipher.

His role targeting family justice and police brutality campaigns has been given its own page: Bobby Lewis: family justice campaigns.

See also:

• Bobby Lewis: timeline
• Bobby Lewis: Ellison Review
• Bobby Lewis: family justice campaigns

As an undercover

The officer HN78 joined Special Branch in 1986, and the Special Demonstration Squad in 1991, being deployed undercover from Summer 1991 to late 1996. He left the SDS after his deployment.

Description

Though his cover name was Anthony Lewis, he was generally known as Bobby.

Well known for wearing a beret with a red star pinned on it, and tinted shades which he would wear even at night or indoors. Likewise he rarely removed his beret, but had short, 1/2 inch hair under it (also described as a 'modest afro'). There was a slight gap in his front teeth and he wore a gold hoop in one ear. Others recalled that he often had a large golfing umbrella with him.

He claimed to be form Oldham, of Jamaican heritage and came across as northern, working class, with a Lancashire accent. He didn't talk of his family however, and people never met them.

'Gemma' (alias) recalled that he always wore the same outfit, trainers, tracksuit bottom, dark top and jacket. He had a large, impressive beard. 'Sam' (alias), another campaigner who knew him, gave a similar description, adding that Bobby was mid to late 30s at the time with a Lancashire accent. He was not flash with money.

Bobby Lewis lived in a bedsit on Carlingford Road, Tottenham that had a single bed and was without personal belongings such as books. posters or campaign literature. He did not even have records - which was remarkable given his profession. It was summed up as a place that looked like he never spent time in it. He also used an address at 5 Walsingham Road, E5, in the Hackney Downs / Lower Clapton part of London.

Another address, at Philip Road, was also recalled. Bea described it as a sparten bedsit at the back of a house, which had his records but not much else.

He didn't take himself too seriously. Gemma said:

He came across as nice, if lonely. He was street smart rather than intellectual, fun to be around. He hung around with women more and compared to many of the men active at the time he was less politically competitive, which made him easy company.

Bea recalled him as a very engaging person, who chatted to everyone and came across as having sound politics. He struck her as being really intelligent, and noted that her friends (many who were in the SWP) liked him. The same was noted by others, Guy describing him as 'friendly and affable to people when showing up up on demos and actions.

Unusually for the milieu he targeted, he did not drink heavily or smoke, and wasn't into drugs. He was often driving so wouldn't drink, but did come to the pub after meetings (many were held in upstairs rooms in pubs in any case). However, he was always in attendance at fundraising events including numerous ANL benefits in East & North London, and most branch socials, DJing at many of of them.

Politically he did not have much of a story to give; he simply joined the SWP, saying he was down in London for work. However, he appeared to take his political activity seriously, always being around, more often than not holding copies of Socialist Worker - 'like a shield', in Gemma's memory. All the same, there was no deep discussions about politics - with Bobby it was 'more banter'. And while he could quote Malcolm X, it was without any particular depth. (At that period, the life and politics of Malcolm X were popular in SWP circles and the party hosted regular discussions abou this work.) Sam also noted that Lewis was 'a good listener but didn't take a major lead in discussions and questions'. Nor is he recalled trying to steer the group towards activities that would get others in trouble.

On demonstrations he never took a leading role, but would take part whether in sit-down protests or chanting. He would always be looking around to see what was happening, and seek to join those who were moving forward, especially if it looked like they were heading towards confrontation. Particularly if an intervention around an arrest was taking place and support was needed. Otherwise, he does not appear to have part of the cadre taking part in more direct action. Rather, more often than not he was selling papers, especially on demonstrations. Others recalled that while he attended many demonstrations he avoided been in position of actually being arrested. Peter, a south London anti-fascist, recalled that Lewis was a nice, friendly bloke who hung out in ANL social circles

He became a good friend to people, some saying they felt they were emotionally close. The women he targeted for relationships and friendships knew leading campaigners in the Socialist Workers Party and Anti-Nazi League and being with them would have helped provide him cover. However, he did not seem to have close male friendships. Others recalled he was a bit of a flirt with women.

At the time there was no suspicion of him, partly because as being a black man involved in anti-racism campaigning, that he would be on the side of the police was not thinkable. Indeed, because he was a black man other campaigners would gather around him on protests to protect him from police snatch squads. Gemma thought this blinded her and others to things obvious in hindsight, such as him never taking his hat off, the large beard and glasses which hid most of his face. As well as the fact that his actual whereabouts when not on protests or other activities, were hard to pin down, including whether he was at his supposed home.

Legend & tradecraft

Bobby said he was a professional DJ, and said he performed at private parties outside London on a regular, if casual basis, including going to Germany His professional name was 'Bobby McGee', taken from the title of the Janis Joplin song.

He claimed he had spent many years doing functions on a military base in Germany. He did speak German, good enough that he could make jokes in the language, though with a British accent. He told both Bea and Gemma that he had two children by a white German woman. He also told Gemma that he had slept with his sister-in-law, which had lead to the break up of the marriage and his return to Britain. Bea recalled the same story, only it being his mother-in-law he had slept with and that his wife had found them in bed. He gave the impression of having been a Lothario type person in Germany, which was at odds with his persona.

Bea recounted a time when he disappeared one weekend, causing her to be very worried for him; when he returned he said he had driven to Germany as his son had an asthma attack. He also gave her the address of his ex-wife as a street in Minden, near Hannover in Germany.

He DJ'ed at most if not all ANL fundraisers at the time, including at Chats Palace in Hackney, and as such would have played along side leading left-wing political groups of the time such as Fun-Da-Mental. He would bring his own records (at odds with people recalling that he did not have records at home). One of the songs he is recalled as playing was the 1992 Charles & Eddie hit, 'Would I Lie To You'. He also played groups such as N.W.A. and Public Enemy, though much of his music was described as 'middle of the road' dance. Other described his music as quite cheesy, or funk / motown, and he was not involve in the growing rave scene of the time.

A number of people recalled that Bobby said he did work as a German translator as his day job, though it appeared his main source of income was as a DJ. Bea also recalled that as part of this translation work he would have to speak to his female boss.

He was one of the first people at the time to have a pager. This was the only way to contact him and he would get back to people immediately. He was unusual in that he had a car (an old, dark coloured BMW and/or a Ford Sierra) at the time, and he used it to give people lifts home back from meetings or to events, and including for flyposting.

The pager number was 0426 980 733.

Gemma recalled that he always came to find her and her female friends on protests, in some ways using them as cover. In her reflection, given they liked to be close to where action was happening and that she knew many people in north London SWP, she would have been good cover for him.

He lied about his age, being older than he had claimed.

Nobody spoken to recalled Bobby ever having ever been arrested.

Exit

Bobby deployment ended in 1995, withdrawing from the SWP and ANL at this time.

He told Germma his reason for leaving the political scene was there was a chance to make up with his ex-wife who was then in Spain, so he was leaving the country. Once he left, he was not heard from again. Sam recalled Bobby said he was going to Egypt for either family or work, giving only a few weeks notice in 1995, while Guy remembered 'excuse to disappear was a trip to Cuba where he wanted to figure whether the Trots or the Stalinists had the best analysis of what it was really like'.

Once he left, there was no further contact with the activists he had campaigned alongside. However, due to the rapid grown in the organisation at the time, his absence was not particularly noted at the time.

After he had left, Bea received a letter from him sent from Egypt, something she found odd as he was not the letter writting type and they had not maintained a friendship after they had split up. In it, he claimed to be working in a bazaar in Eygpt and finding his roots, and being interested in black nationalism - his interest in Egypt did not strike her as out of character as he had a book on Black Egyptians.

Relationships

Undercover 'Bobby Lewis'

Bobby Lewis is known to have had a number of sexual relationships with women in the groups he targeted.

By 2018, the officer admitted to one relationship to the Undercover Policing Inquiry as part of the process for applying for anonymity in the Inquiry. Two, 'Bea' and 'Jenny' (aliases) were granted anonymity and core participancy in the Undercover Policing Inquiry in September 2019. Of 'Bea', Mitting wrote in granting her application:

"Bea" had a sexual relationship with HN78, whom she knew as Bobby Lewis for about a year, beginning in March 1992, during his deployment as an undercover officer. They met at the first meeting of the Socialist Workers Party which she attended. The fact of the relationship was volunteered by HN78. She has a significant interest in an important aspect of the matters to which the Inquiry relates and is likely to be able to provide valuable evidence about his deployment.

Further information came from a challenge to anonymity for HN78:

At the time of her relationship with HN78, she already had two young children from a previous relationship and they had frequent contact with HN78. Those children are now adults and one of them remembers HN78 and his role in her life as a young child.

Bea, herself, said that her relationsship with Bobby started soon after she meet him through the SWP, and that Bobby would often stay at her place. She said it felt like a normal relationship though he put up barriers to prevent her getting too close to him.

While of 'Jenny', Mitting wrote:

She states that she was involved in the Socialist Workers Party and the Anti-Nazi League in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She met HN78 (“Bobby Lewis”) in 1992 or 1993 and they became close friends. In the late summer or early autumn of 1995 he told her that he was leaving London to attempt a reconciliation with his ex-wife in Spain. This led to them spending the evening together at his home and to their only sexual encounter.

In January 2020, it was revealed that the undercover did not deny the encounter with Jenny, and Mitting ruled that both women were entitled to receive his real name.

Targets

Much of his activity was focused on central and north east London. In particular, he was part of the SWP / ANL cadres focused around Hackney & Tottenham. However, outside of anti-racism/fascism, he did not seek to join or show interest in other issues popular within the SWP at the time such as Poll Tax defence campaigns, Irish issues or Palestine. He is not currently known to have gone to events outside of London. He does not appear to have sought to get close to the leading figures in the SWP - though many of them did live in Hackney in this period. The level of his political knowledge and discourse would have precluded him from getting access. However, he would have known all the gossip at the time, including details such as who was not paying poll tax, etc. Bea did recall that he did take part in the campaign to save St Bartholomew's Hospital which was threatened with closure at the end of 1992.

Other targets: AFA, HCDA, black nationalists

The only other groups he showed an interest in were Nation of Islam and also Anti-Fascist Action, In particular, he attended a talk at Tottenham Community Centre, possibly early 1993, to hear a talk on the recently released biography of Malcolm X, and afterwards showed interest in and hung out with black nationalists.

Through his involvement in Hackney SWP / ANL, he knew people active in groups such as Hackney Community Defence Association (later a target of undercover Mark Jenner, who infiltrated the Colin Roach Centre 1995-2000).,

Bobby Lewis also showed interest in Anti-Fascist Action (AFA) from time to time, though it never amounted to actual involvement in the group. There were some people who he knew throgh ANL who went on to be involved in AFA, though the two groups were quite distinct. When he went on protests likely to be more confrontational, it was always with the ANL contingent.

However, he did show an interest in some of those involved in AFA. In one instance he made a point of meeting up with the new London organiser for AFA, whom he had met previously through the ANL headquarters.

On the whole, Peter, an ANL activist in south London, recalled that Bobby Lewis gave the impression that he wanted to be involved in more 'hardcore' activity, but that this never really materalised into anything. For instance, if it looked like some people were trying to organise a physical response on a demonstration he would express interest and give the impression of being up for it. Bea and others also recalled that it was not unusual that he would turn up after actions had taken place.

Guy wrote:

He regularly came into the ANL office to volunteer & chat to those who worked there. He was particularly interested in organising a stewards group to take on the BNP and regularly slagged off the ANL leadership for not actively recruiting fighters.

SWP & ANL

In 1991-1993 there were two SWP branches active in Hackney, which meet weekly:

Hackney North (later called Stoke Newington branch) - meeting at the Birdcage pub, corner of Stamford Hill / Winduss Road, N16

Hackney South (later called Dalston branch): meeting at Unity Club, 96 Dalston Lane, E8.

In 1992, the Tottenham (& Edmonton) branch emerged, meeting at Irish Centre, Pretoria Road, off White Hart Lane, N17. By the end of the year, it had moved to the Wood Green Centre, Philip Lane, N17, which is near where Bobby Lewis lived, continuing there in 1993. In mid-1993 the branch moved their meetings to the Rose & Crown, Tottenham High Road (opp. Tottenham bus garage).

Bobby Lewis is recalled as having joined the Hackney South SWP branch. As it grew in size, it split into several smaller ones with Bobby staying with what became the Dalston branch, which met in the same place as the old Hackney South branch. By 1992, he is recalled as knowing most people involved in the local group.

He is recalled as being very active in the party, Bea saying that 'it felt he was throwing himself into it', and that the meetings were open and friendly, welcoming newcomers. He was a regular attender at weekly meetings, paying his membership dues in cash. He may have collected the paper sales money at them for a short while (a job that was passed around). He was also very active doing the paper sales, taking part in the regular pitch near the Dalston Sainsburys (near Dalston Kingsland station). In meetings he is described as being involved and having a lot to say, though is not recalled as trying to stir things up.

The focus of his activity with the SWP was more anti-racism / anti-fascism (including the work on black and family justice campaigns), rather the trade union activity of the party which he showed little interest in. However, throughout his deployment, he attended the Marxism conferences (listed below), a significant event in the SWP calendar.

Poster for 1994 ANL Carnival Against The Nazis, Brockwell Park

Once the ANL was refounded in 1992, its campaigning in east London became the focus of this activity, doing meetings and leafleting for the ANL, plenty of marches and generally being present in the Tower Hamlets / Brick Lane area. As one person who knew Bobby Lewis well put it, 'he attended all the protests at the time'. This included national demonstrations such as two large ones held at the BNP's headquarters in Welling in 1993. He is also recalled as hanging out at the ANL's headquarters on Shakespear Road in Brixton, a relatively open administrative space which operated on trust, albeit was not the space where decisions tended to be made.

At the time things were organised by word of mouth, such as phone trees or at the weekly branch meetings.

Among those he would have had access to and likely spied on was prominent Auschwitz survivor and anti-Fascist activist Leon Greenman.

'Peter' (alias) a south London ANL activist, recalled seeing Bobby Lewis at events at counts in east London. However, his principle encounters with him was socially in Brixton, where the ANL had its headquarters. Bobby Lewis visited the office on a number of occasions and joined other campaigners drinking at the nearby Prince Albert pub. Another south London ANL campaigner, Guy, also recalled Bobby visiting to volunteer and chat.

28 May 1994 saw the large Rage Against Racism ANL Carnival in Brockwell Park, South London take place, which 125,000 people would attended, after a march from Kennington Park. During the construction of the stage and infrastructure, Bobby was put in charge of overnight security - as 'he was if nothing else reliable and seemed like he could handle himself.

David Irving protests (1992)

IMAGE

In summer 1992, revisionist historian and Holocaust denier, David Irving was the subject of public attention due to his antisemitism. Newly discovered diaries of Joseph Goebbels had lead to him being commissioned to do a biography of the Nazi, and produce serialised extracts of the diaries for the Sunday Times. This caused an outcry among Jewish and anti-racist organisations.

The Anti-Nazi League were active in the protests that emerged, and published the pamphlet 'Holocaust Denial: The New Nazi Lie'. Throughout summer 1992, the ANL and other groups held demonstrations at Irving's home in central London and picketed venues were he was due to speak. Bobby Lewis was at a number of these protests.

British National Party protest

The British National Party is a far right political party that had emerged from splits within the National Front in 1982. Under its founder John Tyndall, it initially focused on street marches before taking a political turn in the 1990s. This political turn was driven in party by Tower Hamlets branch organiser Eddy Butler. On 11 March 1990, a 'Rights for Whites' march was organised and used to raise the BNP's profile in the working class area. They focused on racial tensions, and the growing immigrant Bangladeshi community in the area. As a result of this BNP activity, and abetted by an institutionally racist police, there was a significant increase in racist attacks in east London.

In turn, this resulted in an anti-racist / anti-fascist movement countering the BNP and other far right groups in the area, tackling them both on the street (by countering the BNP newspaper pitch on Brick Lane) and in the political arena (by campaigning against the standing of candidates in local by-elections. Initially, the presence in the area was Anti-Fascist Action (AFA) who confronted the BNP directly. In October / November 1991, AFA held two large local events: the Unity Carnival at Hackney Downs which attracted 10,000 people, and a march in Bethnal Green which saw 4,000 participate.

This upswell in interest helped drive the re-founding of the Anti-Nazi League by the SWP in 1992. The same year also saw the emergence of Youth against Racism in Europe (YRE), the Anti-Racist Alliance (ARA), and locally the Hackney Community Defence Association. Up until then, the SWP which had a presence had conducted it anti-racism work in east London through its own local branches with individual members engaging in various aspects of community defence.

Once mobilised, the ANL became a significant presence in east London throughout the flash point districts of Tower Hamlets, Bethnal Green, Isle of Dogs and Newham. It was also very active in supporting local justice campaigns. Another key focus at the time was the BNP's headquarters in Welling, south east London, which attracted national attention.

Brick Lane

IMAGE: BL AT BRICK LANE DEMO FROM SOCIALIST WORKER IMAGE: MAP SHOWING BRICK LANE IN LONDON

The BNP had a well-established weekly newspaper pitch at the Brick Lane market, which it had occupied since the 1980s. On October 1990, they found it occupied by a large contingent from Anti-Fascist Action preventing the party from taking their customary place. This intervention was the opening salvo in a three year long and ultimately successful battle to prevent the paper sales going ahead. The next significant confrontations were on 17 March and 20 October 1991, when in a publicly announced events 300 anti-fascists descended on Brick Lane, with similar mobilisations by the BNP. AFA also picketed other venues connected with the BNP in the area and organised mass events (as noted above).

The Brick Lane campaign became an important one for the ANL. One of the group's earliest protests is a demonstration was against the presence of the BNP in Tower Hamlets, held at Altab Ali Park (at the south end of Brick Lane) on 2 February 1992. As clashes with the far right intensified over the next year, the ANL devotes considerable resources there and holds numerous demonstrations. According to those present, Bobby Lewis was at all the ANL's protests around Brick Lane. At one point he threw eggs over the heads of police, scoring a hit on the BNP.

August 1992 sees increased clashes with the far right there. On 23 August 1992, leafleters in Brick Lane were attacked by 40 far right activists, leaaving three ANL campaigners hospitalied. In response, ANL hold a rally there on 30 August, with 150 turn up, including Bobby Lewis who can be seen in a Socialist Worker photograph of the day.

A particular focus through out 1992 and into 1993 are protests against the BNP paper sellers next to the market at the north end of Brick Lane. Multiple groups are involved, including the ANL, Youth Against Racism in Europe and local community based organisations. The protests grow in size over time while the BNP activists are given police protection. The Derek Beackon by-election victory on 16 September 1993 galvinised campaigners further.

On 19 September 1993, 1,000 anti-racists and anti-fascists turned up and broke through police lines - leading to 23 arrests, but crucially preventing the paper sale going ahead. Bobby Lewis was present on the day, apparently being 'very up for it but didn't get his hands dirty'. The following Sunday, 26 September, 1,500 turn up, again preventing the paper sale taking place. This effectively ending the BNP's presence on Brick Lane, the sales pitch being abandoned after this.

Welling (1993)

IMAGE: BNP HQ IN WELLING AND/OR MAP OF AREA

Lead up

In 1989, the British National Party had set up headquarters at Upper Wickham Lane, Welling, in south east London under the guise of being a bookshop. Anti-racist campaigners singled it out as the cause of an increase in racist attacks in the area, including that of Rolan Adams and Stephen Lawrence. This lead to a campaign to have Bexley Council close it down, supported by local ANL and YRE branches, the Rolan Adams family and others.

In the same period, anti-racist/fascist groups held a number of large protests. In February 1992, 5,000 people marched in response to a call out by the Rolan Adams Family Campaign, to mark the first anniversary of Rolan's death and to protest the BNP headquarters. This call was strongly supported by the ANL.

Advert for protest against BNP Headquarters at Welling, called for 15 May 1993, as published in Socialist Worker

On 8 May 1993, in response to the murder of Stephen Lawrence in April, 5,000 joined in a protest called by a coalition of anti-racist groups including the ANL. Speakers included Labour MPs and an aunt of Stephen Lawrence. However, the march ends in disturbances when it is confronted by police. Bobby Lewis attended this event.

Duwayne Brooks, who was with Stephen Lawrence on the night of his murder, had attended this protest and was arrested following a scuffle with police. He was later prosecuted but charges were dropped by the judge in the case. Peter Francis later claimed that it was intelligence gathered by him that lead to Brooks being identified as having been at the demonstration and thus leading to his wrongful arrest. See: Tom Symonds, Police 'spied on' Stephen Lawrence family, says Guardian newspaper, BBC News (Online), 24 June 2013 (accessed 5 January 2020); Rob Evans & Paul Lewis, Police 'smear' campaign targeted Stephen Lawrence's friends and family, The Guardian, 24 June 2013 (accessed 5 January 2020).</ref>

This intelligence appears to have included going through photos of the demonstration collected by other police units involved, identifying suspects. In the Ellison Review, Bobby Lewis admits to being one of those who looked through police photos of protestors on this demonstration (see also Bobby Lewis: Ellison Review).

On 11 September 1993, Holocaust survivors Leon Greenman and Esther Brunstein launched the ANL national petition to have the BNP headquarters closed down at the site in Welling.

October 1993 demonstration

Video footage from the day.

VIDEO (ITN Report): https://youtu.be/c91z_gh0fRQ

16 October 1993 saw the next national demonstration, called "Close down BNP HQ - National Unity Demo". It is often referred to as the 'Battle of Welling' or 'Welling Riots', having attracted 40,000 protestors and broke into the largest outbreak of civil disorder of its day.

In June 1993, a broad coalition of groups including ANL and Youth against Racism in Europe started mobilising for a protest at the BNP's headquarters. Others supporting it include Searchlight, IWA GB and family campaigns of Rolan Adams & Rohit Duggal, with other sponsors coming on board including Labour MPs. The ANL is very active in promoting it, including organising coaches to bring people from across the country.

Ahead of the protest, ANL leaders had a leading role in talks with the police, helping negotiate the route and seeking to cooperate with them. Meetings with the police happened on 2 June and 13 August, with the police making contact on 27 September.

The march started at Plumstead Common and intended to pass the BNP headquarters itself. However, Commissioner Paul Condon refused permission for the marchers to pass the building and he ordered an exclusion zone set up around it to prevent them getting close.

This exclusion zone, lined with a heavy police presence, set the conditions for confrontation as it forced the thousands strong protest into a constrained area where they had little space to manoeuvre in dangerous and untenable positions. This was exacerbated on the day by heavy handed policing including mounted baton charges into a tightly packed crowd, striking many poeple on the head. 58 protestors and 12 police were hospitalised, with multiple arrests made.

Bobby Lewis was with a group of ANL activists; at one point he used his umbrella to protect his head as the BNP on the other side of a wall were throwing bricks into the crowd.

ANL leaders were among those trying to defuse the situation, though while appealing for calm their Chief Steward, Julie Waterson was struck on the head by a police baton and hospitalised. Leon Greenman and Richard Adams were also part of a delegation who met with police on the day to resolve issues. ANL blamed the violence on the antagonistic policing and called for an inquiry into the police's violence.

Undercovers present on the day

Peter Francis, while undercover in left wing groups including Youth Against Racism in Europe during the 1990s.

Bobby Lewis is known to have attended the 16 October 1993 protest as part of the ANL contingent.

Other SDS undercovers are known to have been present, including Peter Francis who had only been recently deployed into the Kingsway Anti Fascist Group. He would go on to infiltrate Youth against Racism in Europe, a counter-part to the YRE.

A third undercover had infiltrated far right Combat 18 and 'on the day in the company of neo-Nazis who were looking to beat up anti-racist demonstrators.'

Later Francis would write:

I cannot know exactly what Lord Condon did and didn’t know about what the SDS was doing.

However, it does surprise me greatly that he can’t seem to remember actually visiting the SDS in its safe-house, shortly after the major Welling Demonstration in October 1993. As I remember it, the demonstration was fully discussed, including the impact that the death of Stephen Lawrence was having in galvanising left-wing support against the BNP.

It doesn’t seem like the kind of meeting a commissioner would forget. He was specifically requested asked not to wear his uniform when he came to our safehouse in Balcombe Street in Marylebone. This was so he could arrive incognito.

He also gave the unit a bottle of whisky as a mark of gratitude for the accurate intelligence we provided him. I hope his official diaries will help him remember.

Paul Condon, who had been in charge of policing on the day, had been quick to criticise the protestors, stating in the immediate aftermath:

'The hypocrisy of the organisers knows no bounds. They must have known and anticipated exactly what happened today and they provided the opportunity for it to happen,' said Mr Condon. 'Again in London we have seen a cowardly mob of extremists with no intention of demonstrating for a cause, turn up to cause disorder, violence and damage.

'The organisers knew exactly the group who were being drawn to the occasion. They allowed them to take part in their march, they saw exactly what was happening and when it was happening.'

Aftermath

IMAGE: FIND PICTURES OF SWP ON THE DAY / ??JULIE WATERSON

In the wake of the Welling demonstration, a large police operation was established and further arrests made. This continues through out 1994, sparking claims of hypocrisy given that police dropped charges against the killers of Stephen Lawrence the same time. A number of ANL activists including from east London are charged with various offenses, a number quite serious, including riot. At least one of those arrested asked Bobby Lewis if he would be a defence witness, with the undercover going so far as to meet with the person's solicitor.

The ANL established a defence campaign, 'Drop the Welling Charges', whose activities included demonstrations outside of court hearings in 1994 and 1995. Of those brought to court, a number are found not guilty, but fourteen are convicted. They are sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on 12 September 1995, for which the ANL call for a picket. Nine are given prison sentences. The ANL run an 'Adopt A Prisoner' campaign for them.

After five years of campaigning by different groups, the BNP headquarters was shut down by Bexley Council in 1995.

Derek Beackon & east London by-elections

IMAGE: LOCATE TV FOOTAGE OF ELECTION NIGHT WITH BOBBY LEWIS

Eddy Butler's, the BNP's local organiser in east London, spent the early 1990s building up the profile of the BNP in the area, trading on local community issues. The party was particularly strong around the declining docklands areas and stood candidates in several local by-elections in the Millwall and Isle of Dogs area, often playing on racial tensions. The ANL was often out leafleting to counter their presence, though it is not certain how much Bobby Lewis engaged in this activity.

A key point for the BNP was when they had their first successful election attempt, with their candiate Derek Beackon becoming a local councillor on the Isle of Dogs during a by-election held on 16 September 1993. Following his election, the ANL continued their campaigning around him, including holding protests at meetings he was due to attend. In particular, 70 anti-BNP protestors disrupt his first official council meeting, activity that continues into 1994. Beackon would fail to hold his seat in the elections of May that year.

Bobby Lewis was active in the campaign against Beackon. He was among the ANL campaigners present at the count (a coach load having turned up from Hackney), and briefly shown on TV holding an umbrella to shield himself and others who had come under attack from right-wingers present.

Guy Smallman recalled:

On the night of Derek Beacons election on the Isle of Dogs in September 1993 he pulled a small group of us together to do security when we found ourselves partially trapped and heavily outnumbered by the BNP and their Chelsea headhunter mates. When they started chucking bottles at us from behind a nearby wall the team sprung into action and physically went for the fash who had got onto the wall and were directing the bottle throwers. Bobby was the only one who didn’t get stuck in. Though I suppose on hindsight had he not organised us we could have been over run by them.

It is an open question whether the undercover known to be in the BNP / Combat 18 at the time was among the far-right present.

Marxism conferences

IMAGE OF POSTER?

• Marxism 91: 5-12 July

• Marxism 92: 10-17 July. Speakers to include to include Chris Mullin, George Silcott, Tony Benn, Arthur Scargill, George Galloway.

• Marxism 93: 9-12 July. Speakers include Bernie Grant on 'Stopping the Nazis today'; and multiple MPs including Jeremy Corbyn and Clive Soley.

• Marxism 94: 8-15 July. One session is Stopping Fascism Today with Julie Waterson, Ahmed Shaw & Hassan Jacques. Also talking are MPs Bernie Grant, Jeremy Corbyn and George Galloway.

• Marxism 95: 7-14 July, Friends Meeting House. Speakers including Jeremy Corbyn and Arthur Scargill

- No Peace No Justice session with Myrna Simpson & Donald Douglas (brother of Brian) and Gary McFarlane

- Racism and Resistance in Britain with Bernie Grant & Weyman Bennett.

During Marxism 95, Bobby was part of a group of approximately 70 SWP who picketed Tower Bridge Magistrates. This was for a court hearing for BNP activist Steve O'Connell who was being charged with assault for punching an ANL campaigner at an earlier court hearing.

The full extract of material relating to Bobby Lewis (N78) as it appears in the Ellison Review can be found in the page Bobby Lewis: Ellison Review.

Special Demonstration Squad

Relationship to other undercovers

IMAGE: CHART OF CONTEMPORARY UNDERCOVERS

Twice weekly meetings were attended by all SDS undercovers then actively deployed. There Bobby Lewis would have met colleagues who were present at Welling in 1993 such as Peter Francis. He would have also known animal rights undercovers Andy Coles and Matt Rayner who were deployed around the same time as him. Later he would have encountered others such as Peter Francis who from 1993 had infiltrated the Socialist Party / Youth Against Racism in Europe and Christine Green who targeted animal rights from 1994).

Other unnamed undercovers of interest he would have been deployed along side were HN89, who infiltrated the far right and was 'involved in public order situations where left and right attended'. Likewise, HN101 who was active in Socialist Workers Party in 1990s and had 'an involvement in Stephen Lawrence Campaign issues'.

Given his targets' known interests and geographical location he is likely to have received some instruction on his deployment John Dines who preceded him, while in turn helped Mark Jenner who infiltrated the Colin Roach Centre in Hackney, focusing on Anti-Fascist Action and family justice campaigns from 1995 onwards. He also may have had some role in training David Hagan (HN81), who from 1996 infiltrated the SWP and later was also involved in Stephen Lawrence campaign issues.

Police line of command

For the final year of his deployment, the head of the Special Demonstration Squad was DCI Bob Lambert, who had previously infiltrated animal rights groups in north London in the 1980s and fathered a child by one of the multiple woman he had deceived into relationships.

The following table set out the what is known of the chain of command of officers who would have overseen Bobby Lewis's deployment from 1991 to 1995.

Position	Person
Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police	Peter Imbert (1987 - Jan 1993) Paul Condon (Feb 1993-2000)
Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations	William Taylor (1990 - Mar 1994) David Veness (April 1994 - Feb 2005)
Deputy Assistant Commissioner (Security)	John Howley (1991 - 1995), he is also called head of Special Branch 1991 - 1996.
Head of Special Branch / SO12	Cmdr. Don Buchanan (by 1992 - 1995)
Controller of Operations (Special Branch)	Barry Moss (1995)
Head of SDS	N86 (1993 - 96) / DCI Keith Edmondson
SDS Controller of Operations	Bob Lambert (1994 - 1998)

In the Undercover Policing Inquiry

• 17 September 2017: application to restrict real name of HN78 made by Metropolitan Police Service.

• 20 February 2018: directed that any restriction order applications for anonymity in the Inquiry to be submitted by end of February 2018.

• 22 March 2018: Mitting issued a 'Minded To' note, said he was intending to restrict the real name but was refusing the application to restrict the cover name, stating:

HN78 is a sexagenarian. HN78 was deployed into two or three groups in the early 1990s. HN78 admits to a relationship with a member of the opposite sex during the deployment. The Inquiry must investigate deployments into these groups, including that of HN78 [...] Further, members of the target groups must have the opportunity to give evidence about the deployment of HN78. To do that, they will need to know the cover name.

[...] Publication of the real name of HN78 is not, at this stage, necessary to permit the Inquiry to fulfill its terms of reference or otherwise necessary to give effect to the rights of others.

• 6 June 2018: the decision to restrict real name but publish cover name is reiterated on 6 June 2018, when Mitting wrote:

I repeat the reasons set out in the "minded to" note 6 dated 22 March 2018. Further, HN78 has now provided a detailed personal statement in support of the application for a restriction order in respect of the cover name. It provides information about the reasons for the deployments referred to in paragraph 20 of "minded to" note 6, which must be explored in public. It is also necessary that the cover name of HN78 is published, to permit members of the target groups to provide evidence about the deployments and their own activities.

The reasons for the ruling are those set out in the closed note referred to in paragraph 21 of "minded to" note 6 and in the closed note which accompanies this ruling.

• 13 September 2018: an update from the Inquiry stated:

Application to restrict real and cover name was made. Response on behalf of the applicant to the Chairman's Minded To decision (published on 22/3/18) to restrict real name but publish cover name received. Following a closed hearing, the Chairman has reached a final ruling (published on 6/6/18) in which he refused to restrict the cover name. Once the cover name is published, an open application will be published and a date will be set for responding to the Chairman's Minded To decision (published on 22/3/18 and 6/6/18) to restrict the real name.

• 17 July 2019: family of Rolan Adams accepted as Core Participants in the Inquiry following a review of material.

• 24 July 2019: open application to restrict real name of HN78 published with deadline for any written representations to be made by 29 August 2019. A gist of additional information was also supplied by the inquiry, which simply notes that the officer also appeared in the Ellison Report under the same cypher, N78.

• 19 September 2019: two women who had been in relationships with Bobby Lewis were granted core participancy.

• 22 January 2020: Mitting rules against restricting the undercover officer's real name, including the contention that it should only be revealed to 'Bea' and her legal representative, writing:

It was contended on behalf of HN 78 that if "Bea" were to be informed of his realname, a restriction order should be made which would impose on her an obligation not to disclose it to any person other than her legal representative. I reject that contention. His real name is personal information which she is entitled to know and to make lawful use of as she chooses. The ultimate effect of the order is that documents containing the real name of HN 78, including his witness statement, will not be redacted so as to remove his name and/or to substitute a cypher for it. The Inquiry will invite "Bea" to say whether she would like to receive prior disclosure to her. If so, the Inquiry will consult with her representatives and those of HN 78 as to the steps, if any, which the Inquiry should take before that ultimate stage occurs.

HN 78 also does not deny that he befriended "Jenny" and had one sexual encounter with her in the circumstances which she describes. The same course will be followed in her case as in that of "Bea". In both cases, there are human sensitivities involved on all sides which the Inquiry wishes to handle in a manner which respects them.