Gary Roberts (alias)
This article is part of the Undercover Research Portal at Powerbase - investigating corporate and police spying on activists
Gary Roberts is the cover name used by a former undercover officer with the Special Demonstration Squad was deployed into the International Socialists / Socialist Workers Party and also the International Marxist Group from 1974 to 1978.[1]
For the purposes of the Undercover Policing Inquiry and Operation Herne they are also referred to by the cipher HN353 (for the N cipher system see N officers). The Inquiry has ruled that the officer's real name will be restricted.[2]
+++++ Last Updated January 2019 +++++
As an SDS undercover officer
In the Undercover Policing Inquiry
- 23 October 2017: Chair of the Inquiry, John Mitting, directed that applications for restriction orders should be submitted no later than 31 October:[3]
- 14 November 2017: extension sought to move HN353 to a future tranche with the full extent of restriction sought being then unknown.[4]
- 25 January 2018: Mitting minded to restrict real name; no application over cover name made.[5] HN353 does not live in the United Kingdom, but is cooperating with the Inquiry. Mitting is of the opinion the deployment was unremarkable and there is no known allegation of misconduct against him. According to Mitting (Jan 2018), publication of his cover name 'will serve to prompt evidence from those whom he encountered while deployed, if they can remember him and having anything to say about his deployment'. HN353 also wishes to avoid causing apprehension and worry to his wife or subject either of them to media intrusion. Thus, the interference in his Article 8(2) 'right to respect for private and family life of him and his wife which would be occasioned by publication of his real name would not be justified'. [6]
- 1 May 2018: cover name and target groups released.[1]
- 3 July 2018: directed that any objections to Mitting's intention to restrict the real name to be made by 20 July 2018.[7]
- 30 July 2018: final ruling that real and cover name cannot be published.[8]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Email to core participants, '20180501_UCPI_to_all_CPs_publishing_HN3_HN19_HN20_HN60_HN218_HN353', Undercover Public Inquiry, 1 May 2018, referencing 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.
- ↑ John Mitting, (1) The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and its impact on the Inquiry’s work (2) 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, 23 October 2017 (accessed via UCPI.org.uk, 23 October 2017).
- ↑ Counsel to the Inquiry's Explanatory note to accompany the 'Minded-To' Note (2) in respect for restrictions over the real and cover names of officers of the Special Operations Squad and the Special Demonstration Squad, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 14 November 2017.
- ↑ Press Notice: Decisions relating to anonymity applications: Special Demonstration Squad, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 25 January 2018 (accessed 25 January 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 Special Demonstration Squad - 'Minded To' Note 4, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 25 January 2018 (accessed 25 January 2018).
- ↑ Sir John Mitting, Restriction Order Applications by HN1, HN3, HN8, HN9, HN12, HN19, HN20, HN27, HN60. HN72, HN353 and HN355, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 3 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.
