Undercover Policing Inquiry: Tranche 1 Interim Report

Today the undercover policing inquiry has published its first report. The inquiry was established in 2015 to inquire into, and report on, undercover police operations conducted by English and Welsh police forces in England and Wales since 1968. The inquiry has split its investigations into three modules: modules 1 and 2 are further broken down into six separate tranches. This interim report relates to tranche 1: the work of Special Demonstration Squad officers and managers and those affected by their deployments, in the years between 1968 and 1982.

This first report has taken eight years to compile, at a cost of over £64 million, a significant amount of which has been spent on legal costs. I know that those affected by the issues under examination will wish this inquiry to come to its conclusions swiftly, so as to bring accountability and closure. The Government are engaged with the inquiry chair and continue to stress the importance of delivering as soon as practicable.

The Government will carefully consider the contents of this report. I would like to thank all those who have engaged with the inquiry to support its work.

I would also like to thank Sir John Mitting for his work.

I have today laid the inquiry’s report before the House, and it will also be published on www.gov.uk.

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