That this House expresses its grave concern at the mounting evidence emerging from the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI) of extremely serious police misconduct and corruption on a scale far outstripping expectations at the Inquiry’s inception; welcomes the numerous apologies issued by the Metropolitan Police Service for misconduct which includes but is not limited to abusive sexual misconduct by officers, the theft of dead children's identities, and unjustifiable spying on campaign and commu...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Undercover Policing Inquiry will be brought to an end before it has heard from all eligible participants.
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
The Home Office established the Undercover Policing Inquiry 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’s investigations continue and hearings for Tranche 3 are ongoing. This tranche covers the activities of the Special Demonstration Squad during the years 1967 to 2007. Further details on the progress of the Inquiry can be found at: https://www.ucpi.org.uk/.
On 16 July 2026, the Government launched a public consultation on the future of the Undercover Policing Inquiry. Responses can be submitted up to 23:59 on Sunday 20th September, and further information about the consultation can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/future-of-the-undercover-policing-inquiry/consultation-on-the-future-of-the-undercover-policing-inquiry.
The purpose of the consultation is to gather views on the future of the Inquiry from those affected including core participants, stakeholders and the wider public. No decisions have been taken about the future of the Inquiry.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will provide an update as to the current status of the Undercover Policing Inquiry.
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
The Home Office established the Undercover Policing Inquiry 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’s investigations continue and hearings for Tranche 3 are ongoing. This tranche covers the activities of the Special Demonstration Squad during the years 1967 to 2007. Further details on the progress of the Inquiry can be found at: https://www.ucpi.org.uk/.
On 16 July 2026, the Government launched a public consultation on the future of the Undercover Policing Inquiry. Responses can be submitted up to 23:59 on Sunday 20th September, and further information about the consultation can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/future-of-the-undercover-policing-inquiry/consultation-on-the-future-of-the-undercover-policing-inquiry.
The purpose of the consultation is to gather views on the future of the Inquiry from those affected including core participants, stakeholders and the wider public. No decisions have been taken about the future of the Inquiry.
Today I am launching a consultation on the future of the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI). This Government is committed to delivering justice and to ensuring that public inquiries are able to provide answers, accountability and recommendations within a reasonable timeframe. The UCPI was established in 2015 to examine undercover policing in England and Wales since 1968. Sir John Mitting, the current Chair of the Inquiry, will retire in 2027. His retirement provides an opportunity to consult ...
Recorded statement
Answering body: Home Office
Today I am launching a consultation on the future of the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI). This Government is committed to delivering justice and to ensuring that public inquiries are able to provide answers, accountability and recommendations within a reasonable timeframe.
The UCPI was established in 2015 to examine undercover policing in England and Wales since 1968. Sir John Mitting, the current Chair of the Inquiry, will retire in 2027. His retirement provides an opportunity to consult those affected, core participants and others with an interest in the Inquiry on how its remaining work should best be taken forward. I am grateful to him for his work on the Inquiry.
The Terms of Reference of the Inquiry are broad. In addition to examining the role of undercover policing in the prevention and detection of crime, the Inquiry is required to examine the motivation for and scope of undercover police operations, their effect on individuals and the public, the extent of government awareness of such operations, and the adequacy of the legal, policy and judicial framework governing undercover policing. The Inquiry is also tasked with reviewing the extent of the duty of disclosure in criminal proceedings involving undercover police operations and the scope for miscarriages of justice where disclosure was inadequate.
The Terms of Reference envisaged the Inquiry concluding within three years. It has made real progress in investigating the Metropolitan Police’s Special Demonstration Squad and produced an interim report on Tranche 1 of its work (relating to period 1968-82) and will publish an interim report concluding its work on the Special Demonstration Squad next year. More than a decade after it was established, the Inquiry remains ongoing. As at the end of March 2026, the Inquiry has spent £137m. Ministers remain concerned about the length and cost of the Inquiry and the delay in providing outcomes to those affected.
The consultation will seek views on the future structure, scope and format of the work needed to bring the remaining matters the Inquiry is set to investigate to a conclusion. It is not a re-opening of evidence, nor a call for new factual material about undercover policing or individual cases. Respondents will be invited to focus on how the Inquiry’s remaining areas of work should be prioritised and delivered.
Respondents to the consultation might wish to share their views on alternative ways the inquiry might discharge its remaining areas of work. They might wish to consider fairness to victims and those who were affected by undercover policing, bearing in mind transparency and public confidence, proportionality of cost and duration as well as the ability of different approaches to deliver meaningful recommendations. The consultation has been published on the gov.uk website and will close on Thursday 20th August 2026.
We plan to announce our decision on the future of the Inquiry, informed by this consultation in Autumn 2026.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many members of staff are currently employed by the Undercover Policing Inquiry.
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
i) The Undercover Policing Inquiry employs 36 civil servants. An additional 99 staff are contracted or sourced through a managed services contract to provide other services, such as legal support.
ii) The Inquiry’s first interim report was published in June 2023. This covered the Inquiry’s Tranche One investigations of the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) between 1968 and 1982 and did not make any recommendations. The next interim report is due in Autumn 2027 and will not make any recommendations.
iii) The Government has considered whether there are any direct or indirect discrimination issues arising as a result of holding a consultation and has sought to ensure that the consultation is accessible to anyone who wishes to participate. In addition to responding through an online survey, individuals may submit responses by email. Following the conclusion of the consultation period, any decisions taken on the direction of the inquiry will aim to take account of an assessment of their impact on equality.
iv) The Inquiry’s full costs are published on its website, and these are updated periodically as further costs are incurred: Undercover Policing Inquiry – Costs. As of the end of March 2026, its total expenditure was £137,067,000. For each financial year from the establishment of the Inquiry, these costs are broken down as follows:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the annual operating cost of the Undercover Policing Inquiry in each financial year since its establishment.
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
i) The Undercover Policing Inquiry employs 36 civil servants. An additional 99 staff are contracted or sourced through a managed services contract to provide other services, such as legal support.
ii) The Inquiry’s first interim report was published in June 2023. This covered the Inquiry’s Tranche One investigations of the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) between 1968 and 1982 and did not make any recommendations. The next interim report is due in Autumn 2027 and will not make any recommendations.
iii) The Government has considered whether there are any direct or indirect discrimination issues arising as a result of holding a consultation and has sought to ensure that the consultation is accessible to anyone who wishes to participate. In addition to responding through an online survey, individuals may submit responses by email. Following the conclusion of the consultation period, any decisions taken on the direction of the inquiry will aim to take account of an assessment of their impact on equality.
iv) The Inquiry’s full costs are published on its website, and these are updated periodically as further costs are incurred: Undercover Policing Inquiry – Costs. As of the end of March 2026, its total expenditure was £137,067,000. For each financial year from the establishment of the Inquiry, these costs are broken down as follows:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government has undertaken an equality impact assessment in relation to proposals concerning the future of the Undercover Policing Inquiry.
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
i) The Undercover Policing Inquiry employs 36 civil servants. An additional 99 staff are contracted or sourced through a managed services contract to provide other services, such as legal support.
ii) The Inquiry’s first interim report was published in June 2023. This covered the Inquiry’s Tranche One investigations of the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) between 1968 and 1982 and did not make any recommendations. The next interim report is due in Autumn 2027 and will not make any recommendations.
iii) The Government has considered whether there are any direct or indirect discrimination issues arising as a result of holding a consultation and has sought to ensure that the consultation is accessible to anyone who wishes to participate. In addition to responding through an online survey, individuals may submit responses by email. Following the conclusion of the consultation period, any decisions taken on the direction of the inquiry will aim to take account of an assessment of their impact on equality.
iv) The Inquiry’s full costs are published on its website, and these are updated periodically as further costs are incurred: Undercover Policing Inquiry – Costs. As of the end of March 2026, its total expenditure was £137,067,000. For each financial year from the establishment of the Inquiry, these costs are broken down as follows:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made in implementing recommendations arising from the Undercover Policing Inquiry's interim reports.
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
i) The Undercover Policing Inquiry employs 36 civil servants. An additional 99 staff are contracted or sourced through a managed services contract to provide other services, such as legal support.
ii) The Inquiry’s first interim report was published in June 2023. This covered the Inquiry’s Tranche One investigations of the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) between 1968 and 1982 and did not make any recommendations. The next interim report is due in Autumn 2027 and will not make any recommendations.
iii) The Government has considered whether there are any direct or indirect discrimination issues arising as a result of holding a consultation and has sought to ensure that the consultation is accessible to anyone who wishes to participate. In addition to responding through an online survey, individuals may submit responses by email. Following the conclusion of the consultation period, any decisions taken on the direction of the inquiry will aim to take account of an assessment of their impact on equality.
iv) The Inquiry’s full costs are published on its website, and these are updated periodically as further costs are incurred: Undercover Policing Inquiry – Costs. As of the end of March 2026, its total expenditure was £137,067,000. For each financial year from the establishment of the Inquiry, these costs are broken down as follows:
That this House notes with concern that Special Branch documents show that the undercover police reported on union members speaking at meetings asking for solidarity with striking workers; further notes that in an internal police report known as Operation Reuben, the police admit that intelligence gathered by undercover policing was shared by both Special Branch and the security services, with employers and the notorious blacklisting organisations such as the Economic League and the Consulti...
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 Inquir...
Recorded statement
Answering body: Home Office
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 Inquir...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of not providing live audio and video streaming of the Undercover Policing Inquiry on the ability of the (a) public and (b) core participants to e
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
The Undercover Policing Inquiry is independent of the Home Office and so, decisions on the conduct of its investigations and hearings are for the Inquiry to make.The Inquiry has sought the views of Core Participants and relevant parties on how it should c...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of appointing panel members with expertise in (a) institutional racism, (b) sexism, (C) class bias and (d) the other relevant issues in the Underco
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
The issue was carefully considered in 2018 and it was decided that panel members would not be appointed at that time. A judicial review of the decision was subsequently refused. Sir John Mitting is an experienced High Court Judge and has the necessary exp...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of not funding the legal costs for participants in the Undercover Policing Inquiry.
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
The Undercover Policing Inquiry is independent of the Home Office and decisions regarding funding for Core Participants are for the Inquiry to make.Under section 40 of the Inquiries Act 2005, the Inquiry Chair has the power to award reasonable amounts to ...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of instructing the police and security services to make available to their unredacted registry files to the Undercover Policing Inquiry.
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
The police and Security Service are operationally independent from the Home Office and decisions concerning their engagement with the Undercover Policing Inquiry are a matter for them. It would not be appropriate for the Home Office to comment on or inter...
That this House notes the ongoing independent public Undercover Policing Inquiry, set up to investigate undercover policing in England and Wales since 1968; recognises the concerns raised by Non State Non Police Core Participants (NSNPCPs) and interested campaign groups (including the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance and Police Spies Out of Lives) that the inquiry is not currently properly accessible to Core Participants or to the public; supports the principle of open justice including ...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have engaged in surveillance or infiltration of the Newham Monitoring Project over the lifetime of such activities.
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
In 2015 the Home Office established the Undercover Policing Inquiry to investigate and report on undercover police operations conducted by English and Welsh police forces in England since 1968. The Home Office is a core participant in the Inquiry and is i...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish all police files directly relating to the surveillance or infiltration of the Newham Monitoring Project.
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
In 2015 the Home Office established the Undercover Policing Inquiry to investigate and report on undercover police operations conducted by English and Welsh police forces in England since 1968. The Home Office is a core participant in the Inquiry and is i...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in which periods police surveillance or infiltration of the Newham Monitoring Project took place.
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
In 2015 the Home Office established the Undercover Policing Inquiry to investigate and report on undercover police operations conducted by English and Welsh police forces in England since 1968. The Home Office is a core participant in the Inquiry and is i...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information his Department holds on covert police (a) surveillance and (b) infiltration of the Newham Monitoring Project.
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
In 2015 the Home Office established the Undercover Policing Inquiry to investigate and report on undercover police operations conducted by English and Welsh police forces in England since 1968. The Home Office is a core participant in the Inquiry and is i...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Strategic Review of the Undercover Policing Inquiry, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of appointing a panel of advisers prior to the commencement of Module 1 h
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
Prior to the publication of the Strategic Review by Sir John Mitting on 10 May 2018, consideration was given to the appointment of panel members to the Undercover Policing Inquiry. A decision was taken by the previous Home Secretary to continue with a sin...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Strategic Review into the Undercover Policing Inquiry, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of appointing panel members to assist the Chairman prior to the commenc
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
Prior to the publication of the Strategic Review by Sir John Mitting on 10 May 2018, consideration was given to the appointment of panel members to the Undercover Policing Inquiry. A decision was taken by the previous Home Secretary to continue with a sin...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she and her predecessors were briefed by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner on Special Branch officers communicating with organisations or individuals that blacklisted construction workers.
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
Investigations, including those into allegations of police wrongdoing and any decisions in relation to the bringing of disciplinary proceedings, are operational matters for police forces and are carried out independently of Government. The Government is n...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has received reports of disciplinary action initiated against Special Branch officers communicating with organisations or individuals that blacklisted construction workers.
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
Investigations, including those into allegations of police wrongdoing and any decisions in relation to the bringing of disciplinary proceedings, are operational matters for police forces and are carried out independently of Government. The Government is n...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the number of restriction (a) notices and (b) orders her Department has issued to restrict inquiries under (i) section 19(1)(a) and (ii) section 19(1)(b) of the Inquiries Act 2005
Government answer
Answering body: Home Office
Since 2016, the Secretary of State for the Home Department has not used the power to impose a restriction notice under section 19(2)(a) of the Inquiries Act 2005.Under Section 19(2)(b) of the Inquiries Act 2005, a restriction order may be imposed by the C...
That this House believes that a growing number of Scottish citizens have been identified as being involved in undercover policing scandals involving the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and the Special Demonstration Squad of the Metropolitan Police, either as victims or as officers working on cases; considers that these units operated in Scotland keeping political, environmental, trade union and other activists under surveillance using unethical and often illegal methods; notes that th...