Scotland Yard today issued an extraordinary apology to seven women tricked into sexual relationships with undercover police officers spying on environmental protest groups.
The force issued the “unreserved” apology as part of a “substantial” settlement with the women who were deceived into forming relationships not knowing the men were officers.
It means all but one of eight claims brought against the Met have been settled after a four-year legal battle.
Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt acknowledged publicly for the first time that the relationships were a gross violation of the women’s human rights, an abuse of police power and caused significant trauma.
He said some officers had preyed on the women’s good nature and praised the “courage and tenacity” of the women in bringing the action. The Met originally denied any wrongdoing.
The claims relate to officers from the Special Demonstration Squad which operated between 1987 and 2008.
Last year the Met was forced to confirm the identities of two of the undercover officers, Bob Lambert and Jim Boyling, after a High Court order.
Lambert had relationships with four women while he infiltrated groups between 1984 and 1988. He fathered a son with a campaigner but abandoned them when the child was an infant.
Boyling had relationships with at least three women while posing as a green activist between 1995 and 2000. He later married one and they had two children before divorcing in 2008.
The women said in a statement today: “We are pleased the police have been forced to acknowledge the abusive nature of these relationships and that they should never happen.”
Read More
MORE ABOUT