HN2194 Roy Harrington (Home Office)

article

documents

Overview

HN2194 Roy Harrington was a civil servant who was head of F4 division in the Police Department of the Home Office between 1984 and 1987.

Harrington was one of the few people outside the Metropolitan Police to read a full Special Demonstration Squad annual report. Having read the 1984 annual report, Harrington said he ‘was entirely content to the way the Squad's role had adapted to changing circumstances’.

That year, Harrington was also involved with discussions on publishing the Special Branch guidelines.

Full profile to follow.

Statements

Title

Hearing Day

Groups

Exhibits

First Witness Statement of Roy Alastair Harrington

UCPI0000035303

27 Jan 2023

Exhibits to First Witness Statement of Roy Alastair Harrington

First Witness Statement of Roy Alastair Harrington incl. questions added by UCPI

UCPI0000035341

27 Jan 2023

Exhibits to First Witness Statement of Roy Alastair Harrington incl. questions added by UCPI

Reports

Date

Originator

MPS-UCPI

Title

21 Feb 1967

Home Office

UCPI0000035119

Letter from Waddell (Home Office) to Sir Philip Allen attaching draft letter to Commissioner about overlap between Special Branch and MI5

21 Feb 1967

Home Office

UCPI0000035124

Draft Letter to Commissioner Sir Joseph Simpson about the possibility of overlap between Special Branch and MI5

1 Mar 1967

Home Office

UCPI0000035123

Letter from Sir Philip Allen to Brodie on review of possible overlap between Special Branch and MI5

14 Nov 1967

MI5

UCPI0000035121

Letter from MI5 to RA James (Home Office) on review of possible overlap between Special Branch and MI5, inc briefing notes

5 Jan 1968

Home Office

UCPI0000035120

Home Office Minute Sheet regarding review of possible overlap between Special Branch and MI5

16 Sep 1968

UK Government

DOC053

Note of ad hoc meeting of Ministers on the subject of demonstrations and student unrest held on Monday 16 September 1968

Exhibit to the Opening Statement of Counsel to the Inquiry for Tranche 1, Phase 3; also to MPS Tranche 1 Closing Statement and NSCPs Tranche 1 Closing Statement

17 Oct 1968

The National Archives

DOC054

Note of Meeting between Home Secretary and Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on 17 October 1968

Exhibit to the Opening Statement of Counsel to the Inquiry for Tranche 1, Phase 3

21 Nov 1968

Metropolitan Police Special Branch

MPS-0724120

Met Police letter to Home Office on continuation of the SDS after the Oct 27 1968 demo

11 Feb 1969

Home Office

UCPI0000035105

Letter to Chief Constables from HM Inspectorate of Constabulary requesting info on the function of Special Branches

8 Apr 1970

Home Office

UCPI0000004425

Terms of Reference for a Special Branch, 1970

26 Apr 1974

Home Office

UCPI0000035102

Letter from James Waddell (Home Office) to the Home Secretary on dealing with allegations of Special Branch infiltrating trade unions, and SB's relationship with MI5

1 May 1974

Home Office

UCPI0000035101

Letter to James Waddell (Home Office) on the Home Secretary meeting backbench MPs discussing Special Branch targeting of industrial matters and trade unions

2 May 1974

Home Office

UCPI0000035100

Follow-up letter to James Waddell (Home Office) on the Home Secretary meeting backbench MPs discussing Special Branch targeting of industrial matters and trade unions

8 Sep 1978

Home Office

UCPI0000004721

Letter to F4 notng documents relevant to the review of the work of Special Branches

2 Oct 1978

Home Office

UCPI0000035084

File Cover and Minute Sheet from Home Office file ‘Security Measures, Special Branch Duties and Facilities – Review of Special Branch Duties and Liaison with Security Service’

25 Oct 1978

MI5

UCPI0000004720

Letter from MI5 to Sir Robert Armstrong (HO) on possible revision of Terms of Reference for Special Branches

25 Apr 1979

Home Office

UCPI0000035111

Home Office letter objecting to the 'Report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for the Year 1978' implying the Home Secretary has control of Special Branches

20 Aug 1979

Home Office

UCPI0000004718

Letter from Hayden Phillips (Home Office) to DAC Bryan on whether to update guidance for Special Branches and more detailed info on them, inc draft public document (not attached)

6 Sep 1979

Metropolitan Police Special Branch

UCPI0000035109

Letter from DAC Bryan to Hayden Phillips (Home Office) responding to questions about Special Branch

18 Sep 1979

HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary

UCPI0000035108

Letter from HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary to Hayden Phillips (Home Office) advising against publication of a document on Special Branches

1 Nov 1979

Home Office

UCPI0000004716

Letter from Heaton (Home Office) to MI5 enclosing a draft copy of Terms of Reference for Special Branches (not attached)

6 Dec 1979

MI5

UCPI0000004426

MI5 letter to Heaton (Home Office) advising against redrafting Terms of Reference for a Special Branch

14 Dec 1979

Home Office

UCPI0000035107

Letter from Philips to Heaton (both Home Office) on the definition of subversion

4 Feb 1980

Metropolitan Police Special Branch

MPS-0733126

Large collection of police and Home Office documents in advance of a Friends of Blair Peach Committee demo to be held on 27 April 1980

15 Apr 1980

Home Office

UCPI0000004714

Letter from Drew to Phillips (both Home Office) submitting a draft submission on Special Branch Terms of Reference (not attached)

13 Oct 1980

Home Office

UCPI0000004427

Home Office F4 paper on the review of the work of Special Branches, with internal cover letter

16 Apr 1981

Metropolitan Police Special Branch

UCPI0000035151

Report assessing political activity in Brixton after the 1981 uprising

5 May 1981

MI5

UCPI0000035152

MI5 report for the Home Secretary, ‘Subversive Involvement in the Brixton Riots and their Aftermath’ with cover letter from Phillips (Home Office) (report attached)

16 Feb 1982

Metropolitan Police Special Branch

MPS-0737347

Minute sheet from file regarding continuation of the SDS from 1982 to 1986

8 Mar 1983

Metropolitan Police Special Branch

UCPI0000018823

Report on meeting of London Regional CND Council discussing blockade of Upper Heyford Air Base 31 May-3 June 1983, held at County Hall on 27 Feb 1983

11 Mar 1983

Home Office

UCPI0000035096

Home Office letter expressing concern over the scope of a Special Branch report into police monitoring groups, inc explanatory letter from DAC Hewett (attached)

31 Mar 1983

Home Office

UCPI0000004821

Home Office letter to Chief Constable Kenneth Oxford on the definition of subversion, inc speeches by Lord Harris and Leon Brittan (not attached)

31 Mar 1983

Home Office

UCPI0000035095

Home Office letter to Sir Brian Cubbon on restarting the review of the Special Branch Terms of Reference

20 Apr 1983

Metropolitan Police Special Branch

UCPI0000035158

Special Branch Threat Assessment of a four-day blockade of the Upper Heyford US Air Force Base to be held 31 May-3 Jun 1983

22 Apr 1983

Metropolitan Police Special Branch

UCPI0000035157

Special Branch cover letter to Home Office enclosing assessment of London CND blockade of US Air Force base in Upper Heyford 31 May-3 June 1983 (not attached)

26 Apr 1983

Home Office

UCPI0000035094

Note of Home Office discussing restarting the review of Special Branch Terms of Reference

28 Apr 1983

Home Office

UCPI0000004431

Home Office letter to MI5, attaching HO letter to ACPO on restarting review of the Special Branch Terms of Reference (attached)

5 May 1983

MI5

UCPI0000035092

MI5 letter to Home Office agreeing to participate in review of Special Branch Terms of Reference

25 May 1983

Metropolitan Police Service

UCPI0000004632

Letter from DAC Hewett to JG Pilling (HO) enclosing existing Special Branch Terms of Reference ahead of Home Office discussion paper (not attached)

1 Jul 1983

Home Office

UCPI0000035286

Home Office draft updated Terms of Reference for Special Branches, inc confidential annexes (attached)

1 Jul 1983

Home Office

UCPI0000004631

Home Office internal letter to JG Pilling enclosing draft Revised Terms of Reference for Special Branches (not attached)

9 Aug 1983

Home Office

UCPI0000004417

Home Office letter to Chief Constable Ken Oxford enclosing draft version of Home Office guidelines for Special Branches

9 Sep 1983

Home Office

UCPI0000004416

Home Office correspondence between Pilling and Phillips on new Guidelines for Running a Special Branch

16 Sep 1983

ACPO

UCPI0000004667

Letter from Ken Oxford (ACPO Chair) to Home Office enclosing recent Police Authority resolution on Special Branches (attached)

21 Sep 1983

Home Office

UCPI0000004666

HMIC letter to HMCIC expressing reservations about publishing the Special Branch Terms of Reference

25 Oct 1983

Home Office

UCPI0000004658

Notes of a Home Office, police, MI5 and ACPO meeting to revise Guidelines for Special Branches, held at Home Office on 30 Oct 1983, inc annexes of revised draft and cover letter (not attached)

1 Nov 1983

Home Office

UCPI0000004660

Home Office letter to Chief Constable of West Midlands Police submitting draft Guidelines for Special Branches

9 Nov 1983

Home Office

UCPI0000004659

Notes of meeting of Home Office, police and MI5 to discuss new Guidelines for Special Branches

23 Dec 1983

Home Office

UCPI0000004455

Home Office letter circulating correspondence and meeting minutes related to the Working Party of the Police Panel of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities examining the role of Special Branches (attached)

26 Jan 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004434

Home Office letter on the timetable for the review of Guidelines for Special Branches

29 Mar 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000035293

Draft of new Terms of Reference for Special Branches, and cover letter to Chief Constables

29 Mar 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004654

Internal Home Office letter enclosing revised drafts of the Guidelines for Special Branches (not attached)

24 Apr 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004653

Internal Home Office letter on circulating new draft Guidelines for Special Branches for comment

15 May 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000035090

Internal Home Office letter enclosing note on timing of completion of new Guidelines for Special Branches, and how to avoid publication (attached)

29 May 1984

Metropolitan Police Special Branch

MPS-0730903

SDS Annual Report 1983, inc Home Office letter authorising continuation

15 Jun 1984

MI5

UCPI0000004651

MI5 letter to Home Office suggesting revised text for Guidelines for Special Branches

10 Jul 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004648

Home Office letter to Ken Oxford (ACPO) attaching revised draft of Guidelines for Special Branches

16 Jul 1984

Home Office

MPS-0734164

Home Office letter to Commander Phelan approving of the SDS

20 Jul 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004645

Note of a Home Office, police and MI5 meeting to discuss and amend Guidelines for Special Branches and Surveillance

6 Aug 1984

Scottish Home and Health Department (SHHD)

UCPI0000004644

Scottish Home and Health Department letter to Home Office commenting on the new Guidelines for Special Branches

13 Aug 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000035294

Finalised draft of Home Office cover letter to Chief Constables about the new guidelines for Special Branches

13 Aug 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004639

Home Office letter to Ken Oxford (ACPO) enclosing revised version of the Guidelines for Special Branches

13 Aug 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004640

Home Office letter to Peter Imbert (ACPO) enclosing revised version of the Guidelines for Special Branches

14 Aug 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004641

Letter from the Home Office to SHHD explaining changes to Guidelines for Special Branches and enclosing revised version of the covering letter to chief constables (not attached)

24 Sep 1984

ACPO

UCPI0000004638

Letter from Buck (ACPO) to Harrington (HO) enclosing ACPO's suggested changes to the draft Guidelines for Special Branches (attached)

26 Sep 1984

ACPO

UCPI0000004637

Letter from Imbert (ACPO) to the Home Office suggesting further changes to the Guidelines for Special Branches

30 Oct 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004415

Updated draft copy of Home Office Guidelines on the Work of a Special Branch and covering letter to Chief Constables

5 Nov 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004678

Home Office letter to Ken Oxford (ACPO) on revised Guidelines for Special Branches and Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry

8 Nov 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000035129

Internal Home Office letter concerning the Home Affairs Select Committee enquiry into Special Branches

3 Dec 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004540

Home Office letter to the Public Relations Branch enclosing drafts of the Guidelines for Special Branches and Surveillance and what to say to the press (not attached)

3 Dec 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004541

Internal Home Office letter circulating new Guidelines for Special Branches

3 Dec 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004542

Home Office letter to Buck (ACPO) noting ammendments made to draft Guidelines for Special Branches

6 Dec 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004413

Letter to Harrington (HO) on Home Secretary’s thoughts about Guidelines for Special Branches

10 Dec 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004412

Home Office letter on timing of publication of Guidelines for Special Branches in relation to Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry

10 Dec 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000035089

Internal Home Office letter from Sir Brian Cubbon to Harrington raising a question about the accountability of Special Branch to MI5

11 Dec 1984

HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary

UCPI0000035088

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary letter to Sir Brian Cubbon (HO) on the accountability of Special Branches to MI5

12 Dec 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004627

Internal Home Office letter expressing Home Secretary's approval of distribution of the new Guidelines for Special Branches

14 Dec 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004672

Minutes of Home Office, police and MI5 meeting planning for evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry into Special Branches

18 Dec 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004539

Home Office internal letter enclosing a draft of letter to clerk of the Home Affairs Select Committee to enclose Guidelines for Special Branches

19 Dec 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004584

Letter from Home Office to Chief Officer enclosing guidelines on the work of a Special Branch, drawn up by the Home Office in consultation with ACPO and the Security Service

19 Dec 1984

Home Office

UCPI0000004621

Home Office letter to clerk of Home Affairs Select Committee enclosing the new Guidelines for Special Branches (not attached)

21 Dec 1984

ACPO

UCPI0000004673

Telex message from Oxford (ACPO) to Harrington (HO) warning not to speak to media about the new Home Office Guidelines for Special Branches

30 Jan 1985

Home Office

UCPI0000035086

Home Office internal letter concerning Home Secretary’s appearance at Home Affairs Select Committee, inc correspondence between John Prescott MP and the Home Secretary on the remit of Special Branches esp re trade unions (attached)

16 Feb 1985

Metropolitan Police Special Branch

MPS-0730902

SDS Annual Report 1984, inc Home Office letter authorising continuation

17 Apr 1985

Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC)

UCPI0000035160

Fourth Report from the Home Affairs Select Committee Session 1984-85 on Special Branch

17 Nov 2009

Allen Lane

UCPI0000034264

Excerpt from ‘Defence of the Realm’ by Christopher Andrew re ‘Subversion’

Exhibit to the Witness Statement of Roy Alastair Harrington