HN4
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This article is part of the Undercover Research Portal at Powerbase - investigating corporate and police spying on activists
HN4 is the cipher given to a former undercover officer with the Special Demonstration Squad who was deployed into two branches of one group in late 1980s and early 1990s.[1] The Inquiry Chair, John Mitting, has indicated he will restrict HN4's real and cover names, but a final decision has yet to be made (July 2018).[2]
- For the N number cipher system see the N officers.
In the Undercover Policing Inquiry
- 11 May 2018, directed that anonymity applications for HN4 were to be filed by 31 May 2018 for both the MPS legal team and the Designated Lawyers team.[3]
- 21 June 2018: announced that the Chair of the Inquiry, John Mitting was 'minded to' restrict the real name of HN4, but wanted to consider the application to restrict the cover name at a closed hearing to give the officer 'the opportunity to respond' to the Chair's Minded To decision.[4][5]
- According to the June 2018, 'Minded To' note from Mitting:[1]
- To permit the terms of reference of the Inquiry to be fulfilled, it is at least likely that evidence of and about the deployment must be given in public. This will require the evidence of HN4 to be provided or given in public as well.
- HN4 suffers from two medical conditions. In the opinion of Professor Fox, who has prepared a report on HN4 dated 16 April 2018, publication of the real name would be likely to have a severe and irreversible impact on one of them. I accept that opinion. It is not necessary to permit the Inquiry to fulfil its terms of reference that the real name of HN4 should be published... His opinion on the effect of publication of the cover name and/or of the provision of giving of evidence by HN4 is less clear. It is an issue which must be explored in a closed hearing.
- A closed note accompanies these reasons.
- 30 July 2018: following a closed hearing,[2] Mitting is minded to restrict real and cover names on the basis of the 'minded to' of 21 June, and closed reasons.[6]
- A final decision on the manner in which evidence is to be provided and given by HN4 will not be taken until the documentary evidence relating to the deployment has been obtained and analysed.
- 13 September 2018. Open material will be published and date set to respond to the minded-to decision.[7]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 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 11, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 21 June 2018.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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.
- ↑ 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, 11 May 2018.
- ↑ Press notice - 'Minded to' decisions relating to anonymity applications: Special Demonstration Squad, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 21 June 2018.
- ↑ Counsel to the Inqury's Explanatory Note to accompany the Chairman's 'Minded To' Note 9 and Ruling 8 in respect of applications for restrictions over the real and cover names of officers of the Special Operations Squad and Special Demonstration Squad: Update as at 21 June 2018, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 21 June 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.
- ↑ 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.
