Vince Miller (alias)
This article is part of the Undercover Research Portal at Powerbase - investigating corporate and police spying on activists
Vince Miller is the cover name used by a former undercover officer with the Special Demonstration Squad was deployed into the Socialist Workers Party from 1976 to 1979.[1] According to Sir John Mitting, Chair of the Undercover Policing Inquiry, the officer's 'deployment appears to have been unremarkable, despite the fact that he He has admitted four 'fleeting' sexual encounters with different females during his deployment. HN354 is in his 60s, married with family.[2] two of them with female members of the Walthamstow branch of the SWP. One of them was 'Madeleine', who was granted core participant status in the Undercover Policing Inquiry on 6 January 2020.[3]
For the purposes of the Undercover Policing Inquiry and Operation Herne they are also referred to by the cipher HN354 (for the N cipher system see N officers). The Inquiry has ruled that the officer's real name will be restricted.[4]
As an SDS undercover officer
In the Undercover Policing Inquiry
- 22 November 2017: directed that any application for anonymity from the MPS Legal Team by were to be made by 30 November, and for the MPS Designated Lawyer Team by 4 December 2017[5]
- 15 Jan 2018: Mitting indicates he is minded to grant the restriction order over real name and that there was no application in relation to cover name which will be published in due course.[8] The Inquiry Chair also stated:[2]
- In the unlikely event that any member of the public can be prompted to give evidence about his deployment publication of his cover name would serve that purpose.' Publication of real name is not necessary to permit Inquiry to fulfil its terms of reference and would give rise to interference with his article 8 rights to private and family life.
- 19 June 2018: cover name and target group released.[1]
- 9 July 2018: provisional ruling to restrict real name.[9] Directed that any objections to this to be made by 20 July 2018.[10]
- 30 July 2018: final ruling that HN354's real name will be restricted in the Inquiry.[11]
- 6 January 2021: '[...]'Madeleine' applies to be designated as a core participant in Category [H]. She joined the Walthamstow branch of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) in the mid-1970s. This branch of the SWP was infiltrated by HN354 ('Vince Miller') between the beginning of 1977 and September 1979'. She says to have had an sexual relationship with him between 1978 and 1979, 'the last year of his deployment' which is of some significance to her. This ended with his sudden departure.[3]
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.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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 3, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 15 January 2018.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Core participants Ruling 39, Recognised Legal Representatives Ruling 32, Cost of Legal Representation Awards Ruling 31 Application for a restriction order by ‘Madeleine' Undercover Policing Inquiry, 6 January 2021.
- ↑ 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, 22 November 2017 (accessed 26 November 2017).
- ↑ Open application for a restriction order (anonymity) re: HN354, 'Metropolitan Police Service, 29 November 2017, published 9 July 2018).
- ↑ List of documents relating to SOS officers - published 09 July 2018, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 9 July 2018.
- ↑ Press notice - ‘Minded-to’ anonymity: Special Demonstration Squad Officers (HN13, HN296, HN304, HN339, HN340, HN354, HN356/124, HN61, HN819, HN109, HN9, HN66), Undercover Policing Inquiry, 15 January 2018 (accessed 15 January 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, 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.
