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.
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, 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:
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 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, 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 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 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 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...
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, 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, 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, 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 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, 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, 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...