'Romeo' tests for police working undercover to stop affairs with targets
Undercover police will be given a "Romeo test" before assignments under plans intended to prevent them from having affairs with their targets.
An official report will recommend that each officer wanting to work covertly should be subjected to a rigorous psychological assessment.
A key aim will be to identify those who are thought likely to start relationships with women they are monitoring. Any such officers will have their appointment vetoed or be switched to a lower-risk task.
The plan follows the controversy over the activities of Met undercover officer Mark Kennedy and some of his colleagues during the monitoring of environmental protesters. Mr Kennedy has admitted having two affairs with female activists during the seven years he spent infiltrating those campaigning against a power station in Nottinghamshire and others.
It comes amid new revelations in a Channel 4 documentary that he infiltrated a Danish community centre linked to environmental causes and visited 22 countries.
Another undercover officer, Jim Boyling, has also revealed how he married a green campaigner, and had two children with her, while infiltrating the Reclaim the Streets movement. He has claimed that having sex with activists was a "necessary tool in maintaining cover" and alleged that other officers also routinely slept with their targets.
Police chiefs have insisted that sexual relationships are not permitted and a new report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary is to recommend beefing up checks to prevent misconduct. Sources say that one reason is that the nature of undercover work makes it difficult for senior officers to monitor day-to-day conduct. Another is that undercover work can attract "maverick" individuals, who are capable of working in often dangerous circumstances.
Despite the evidence of malpractice, the report will emphasise, that undercover officers perform a vital duty in bringing major organised criminals and other dangerous individuals to justice.
