Police operations

In the 1990s, the Special Demonstration Squad adopted names for their undercovers as a way to avoid referring to them by their names. Often these were abbreviated in intelligence reports. For instance, intelligence reports from HN26 ‘Christine Green’, who was known as ‘Road Bridge’, would be referred to as RB.

• Road Bridge – HN26 ‘Christine Green’ HN26 'Christine Green' HN26 'Christine Green' is the cover name of an undercover police officer who served with the Special Demonstration Squad. She infiltrated South and West London animal rights groups from early 1995 to late 1999. As well as being active in hunt saboteur groups, Green also took part in animal liberation actions and was arrested at least once. Green had a long-term sexual relationship with an activist, which continued long after her deployment ended. Full page: HN26 'Christine Green'
• Common Weal – HN18 Robert Hastings ‘Rob Harrison’ HN18 Robert Hastings 'Rob Harrison' HN18 Robert Hastings 'Rob Harrison' was an undercover officer with the Special Demonstration Squad. Harrison was deployed between 2004 and 2007 into the International Solidarity Movement (London branch), State of Emergency Collective, No Borders. He is known to have had a sexual relationship whilst undercover with an activist, 'Maya'. He was also arrested at a arms fair protest at Dsei in 2007, which was a catalyst for the SDS being shut down. He had the operational code names Common Weal and Video Arcade Full page: HN18 Robert Hastings 'Rob Harrison'
• Touchy Subject – HN15 Mark Jenner ‘Mark Cassidy’ HN15 Mark Jenner 'Mark Cassidy' HN15 Mark Jenner (cover name 'Mark Cassidy') was a SDS undercover officer who spied-upon the Colin Roach Centre, Anti-Fascist Action, Independent Working Class Association, Republican Forum and Red Action between 1995 and 2000. He had a long-term sexual relationship with 'Alison' in his cover identity. Full page: HN15 Mark Jenner 'Mark Cassidy'
• Magenta Triangle – HN16 James Thomson ‘James Straven’ HN16 James Thomson 'James Straven' James Thomson was an undercover SDS officer between 1997 and 2002. He used the cover name 'James Straven' whilst infiltrating Brixton Hunt Saboteurs and the Animal Liberation Front and is referred to by the UCPI as HN16. He had two sexual relationships whilst undercover. He also secured a second cover name, 'Kevin Crossland', an identity taken from a deceased child. Full page: HN16 James Thomson 'James Straven'
• Pegasus / Penguin – EN12 Mark Kennedy ‘Mark Stone’ EN12 Mark Kennedy 'Mark Stone' EN12 Mark Kennedy ('Mark Stone') was an NPOIU undercover officer who operated from 2001 to 2009. Although based in Nottingham for most of his deployment, he infiltrated groups across the UK and Europe. He was exposed as a police officer in October 2010 by activists. His undisclosed involvement in an action against Ratcliffe Power Station led to a trial collapsing. He had several sexual relationships, some long-term. His exposure led to several other undercover officers being exposed and the wider 'spycops' issue becoming public. Full page: EN12 Mark Kennedy 'Mark Stone'
• Psycho Dream – HN14 Jim Boyling ‘Jim Sutton’ HN14 Jim Boyling 'Jim Sutton' HN14 Jim Boyling (cover name 'Jim Sutton') was an SDS officer deployed between 1995 and 2000 into Essex Hunt Saboteurs, Reclaim the Streets and Earth First! He engaged in sexual relationships and fathered children with an activist.
• Red Herring / Quill Feather – HN3 ‘Jason Bishop’ HN3 'Jason Bishop' HN3 'Jason Bishop' was the assumed identity of an Special Demonstration Squad undercover police officer who infiltrated political groups within the activist and anarchist movement in London, including Reclaim the Streets (RTS), Earth First! and Disarm DSEi. He also attended the G8 in Scotland in 2005, focusing on those who were associated with the Dissent! Network. Bishop was exposed by activists in July 2013. Full page: HN3 'Jason Bishop'
• Windmill Tilter – HN81 ‘Dave Hagan’ HN81 'David Hagan' HN81 'David Hagan' was an SDS officer between 1996 and 2001, who targeted the Socialist Workers Party, Class War, Movement Against the Monarchy and Movement for Justice. He is referred to extensively in the Ellison Review about the targeting of the family of Stephen Lawrence. Full page: HN81 'David Hagan'
• Dusty Badger - HN44 'Darren Prowse' HN44 'Darren Prowse' HN44 'Darren Prowse' was an SDS undercover tasked to infiltrate the British National Party in 2007 but was never deployed due to the unit's closure in 2008.
• Apple Sauce / Oven Bake - HN60 'Dave Evans' HN60 'Dave Evans' HN60 'Dave Evans' was SDS undercover officer between 1998 to 2005 against the Socialist Workers Party, London Animal Action & Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty. He shared a flat with fellow undercover HN3 'Jason Bishop' and was arrested at the G8 in Scotland with him in 2005.
• Wounded Knee - HN66 'Dave Jones' HN60 'Dave Evans' HN60 'Dave Evans' was SDS undercover officer between 1998 to 2005 against the Socialist Workers Party, London Animal Action & Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty. He shared a flat with fellow undercover HN3 'Jason Bishop' and was arrested at the G8 in Scotland with him in 2005.
• Hawthorne Ridge / Central Park - HN79 HN79 'Ross MacInnes' HN79 'Ross MacInnes' was an SDS undercover officer prepared to infiltrate the United British Alliance. However, the SDS was scrapped in 2008 and therefore was never deployed.
• Groundhog Day / Ring Wraith / Rivet Bolt - HN118 Simon Wellings HN118 'Simon Wellings' HN118 'Simon C. Wellings' was an SDS undercover police officer who infiltrated the anti-globalisation group 'Globalise Resistance' and the Socialist Workers Party between 2001 and 2004. He was exposed when a debriefing session with his police handlers was accidentally recorded on an activist's answering machine in 2004. He left the group, but continued as an undercover until 2007 targeting the anarchist Dissent! Network. Full page: HN118 'Simon Wellings'
• Craggy Island / Malt Glass - HN104 Carlo Sorrachi 'Carlo Neri HN104 Carlo Soracchi 'Carlo Neri' Carlo Neri is the alias of an undercover police officer who infiltrated the Socialist Party and anti-fascist groups. He was active from 2001 to 2006 and based in north and central London. Carlo Neri was exposed in January 2016. He had three long-term relationships during his deployment. His real name is Carlo Soracchi. Full page: HN104 Carlo Soracchi 'Carlo Neri'
• Fever Pitch - HN77 'Jackie Anderson' HN77 'Jackie Anderson' HN77 'Jacqueline Anderson' was an SDS undercover officer who spied upon Earth First!, Reclaim the Streets, WOMBLES and the Radical Dairy Social Centre between 2000 and 2005.
• Howling Gale - HN43 Peter Francis 'Pete Black' HN43 Peter Francis 'Pete Black' HN43 Peter Francis was a SDS undercover officer from September 1993 to September 1997. He is variously known as Pete Black, Peter Johnson and Pete Daley and infiltrated Youth Against Racism in Europe. As a whistleblower he revealed to The Guardian that he had been spying on Stephen Lawrence's family. Francis is a core participant in the Undercover Policing Inquiry. Full page: HN43 Peter Francis 'Pete Black'

There were also operational names for specific operations within the SDS:

• Lime - the operation created by HN16 James Thomson's gun plot claims.
• Muscat - the response to Helen Steel's search for HN5 John Dines 'John Barker' and the latter's relocation to Australia. HN5 John Dines 'John Barker' HN5 John Dines (cover name 'John Barker') was an SDS officer who infiltrated London Greenpeace and the Animal Liberation Front between 1987 and 1991. Dines had a two-year relationship with Helen Steel. Full page: HN5 John Dines 'John Barker'

Operation Herne was the name given to the Metropolitan Police’s investigation into the Special Demonstration Squad. It was originally called Operation Soisson. Among its sub-investigations were:

• Operation Trinity – into the allegations of HN43 Peter Francis ‘Pete Black’.
• Operation Reuben – into Special Branch collusion with blacklisting.

Operation Elter was the corresponding investigation into the National Public Order Intelligence Unit, overseen by the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

Out of these came a number of specific investigations into criminal activity and misconduct by undercovers, each investigation given its own name. Those that are known publicly are:

• Colton – HN104 Carlo Soracchi ‘Carlo Neri’ HN104 Carlo Soracchi 'Carlo Neri' Carlo Neri is the alias of an undercover police officer who infiltrated the Socialist Party and anti-fascist groups. He was active from 2001 to 2006 and based in north and central London. Carlo Neri was exposed in January 2016. He had three long-term relationships during his deployment. His real name is Carlo Soracchi. Full page: HN104 Carlo Soracchi 'Carlo Neri'
• Montrose – EN12 Mark Kennedy ‘Mark Stone’ EN12 Mark Kennedy 'Mark Stone' EN12 Mark Kennedy ('Mark Stone') was an NPOIU undercover officer who operated from 2001 to 2009. Although based in Nottingham for most of his deployment, he infiltrated groups across the UK and Europe. He was exposed as a police officer in October 2010 by activists. His undisclosed involvement in an action against Ratcliffe Power Station led to a trial collapsing. He had several sexual relationships, some long-term. His exposure led to several other undercover officers being exposed and the wider 'spycops' issue becoming public. Full page: EN12 Mark Kennedy 'Mark Stone'
• Randwick – HN106 ‘Barry Tompkins’ HN106 'Barry Tompkins' HN106 ‘Barry Tompkins’ was an SDS undercover deployed between 1979 and 1983 into various left-wing groups including the Spartacus League of Britain, Revolutionary Communist Tendency and Revolutionary Communist Party and the East London Workers Against Racism. His real name has been restricted. Full page: HN106 'Barry Tompkins'
• Riverwood – EN32 Rod Richardson’s use of a deceased child's identity. HN596/EN32 'Rod Richardson' HN596/EN32 'Rod Richardson' was an NPOIU undercover officer deployed between 1999 and 2003. During this time, he infiltrated groups in Essex, Nottingham and London. He began his deployment at the Rettenden protest camp in Essex before infiltrating anarchist and environmentalist groups in Nottingham and networks such as Earth First! He also infiltrated the WOMBLES in London, and travelled to demonstrations at international summits. Full page: HN596/EN32 'Rod Richardson'
• Sparkler /Nitrogen – HN10 Robert Lambert ‘Bob Robinson’ and the Debenhams attacks. HN10 Robert Lambert 'Bob Robinson' Bob Lambert, using the cover name 'Bob Robinson', infiltrated London Greenpeace and Animal Rights campaigns as an SDS officer between 1983 and 1988. He fathered a child whilst undercover, with 'Jacqui'. He returned to the SDS as a manager (1993-1998) and oversaw further controversies. After retiring, Lambert became an academic in the field of 'Terrorist Studies', until he was exposed. Full page: HN10 Robert Lambert 'Bob Robinson' Also Operation HayOnWye, relating to whether the court was informed of the involvement of an undercover during the trial of Clarke and Sheppard.
• Vasco – HN1 ‘Matt Rayner’. HN1 'Matt Rayner' HN1 'Matt Rayner' was the cover name of an SDS undercover officer. He infiltrated the animal rights movement in North London from 1991 to 1996, targeting London Boots Action Group, London Animal Action, Animal Liberation Front and West London Hunt Saboteurs. He had a sexual relationship in his undercover identity. Full page: HN1 'Matt Rayner'
• Aubisson - HN14 Jim Boyling's HN14 Jim Boyling 'Jim Sutton' HN14 Jim Boyling (cover name 'Jim Sutton') was an SDS officer deployed between 1995 and 2000 into Essex Hunt Saboteurs, Reclaim the Streets and Earth First! He engaged in sexual relationships and fathered children with an activist.  relationship with Ruth
• Buntime - HN16 James Thomson 'James Straven' HN16 James Thomson 'James Straven' James Thomson was an undercover SDS officer between 1997 and 2002. He used the cover name 'James Straven' whilst infiltrating Brixton Hunt Saboteurs and the Animal Liberation Front and is referred to by the UCPI as HN16. He had two sexual relationships whilst undercover. He also secured a second cover name, 'Kevin Crossland', an identity taken from a deceased child. Full page: HN16 James Thomson 'James Straven'
• Lamorna - HN3 'Jason Bishop' HN3 'Jason Bishop' HN3 'Jason Bishop' was the assumed identity of an Special Demonstration Squad undercover police officer who infiltrated political groups within the activist and anarchist movement in London, including Reclaim the Streets (RTS), Earth First! and Disarm DSEi. He also attended the G8 in Scotland in 2005, focusing on those who were associated with the Dissent! Network. Bishop was exposed by activists in July 2013. Full page: HN3 'Jason Bishop'  complaint re an IED.

In the wake of the spycops scandal, the MPS set up two other operations:

• Motion – the name for the taskforce supporting SDS officers.
• FileSafe, previously Beacon – looking at chaotic MPS information-management systems, following Mark Ellison’s criticism in the Stephen Lawrence Independent Review, of relevance to the topic of Assurance.

Another key investation was Operation Aeroscope, the original investigation into the activities of Mark Kennedy's involvement in the Ratcliffe-on-Soar miscarriage of justice.

• Carnaby – Metropolitan Police investigation into the poll tax riots.
• Gant – Metropolitan Police investigation into attacks on butcher-shop windows in the 1990s.
• Wheel Brace – Metropolitan Police investigation into 'criminally active animal extremists' in London in mid-1990s.
• Fewston – inquiry into Welling Riot
• Benbow - the overhaul of MPS and City of London public order policing following the June 18 Carnival Against Capitalism protest.

Also of note is Operation Fishpool, the Metropolitan Police's investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence and the attack on Duwayne Brooks. Stephen Lawrence Justice Campaign Stephen Lawrence was a Black teenager who was murdered by a racist gang on 22 April 1993 in Eltham, South London. His friend Duwayne Brooks OBE survived the attack. The justice campaign led to the Macpherson Inquiry which found the Metropolitan Police to be institutionally racist. However, it emerged that the campaign had been targeted by several undercovers. Full page: Stephen Lawrence Justice Campaign

Operation Achillies (also known as Forton and Aries for different phases) was the National Domestic Extremism Unit's investigation into animal rights campaigns, particulary SHAC and SPEAK.

The Metropolitan Police has held a number of its own investigations into internal corruption of its officers. A number of these became prominent and are known by their operational names. Some of these investigations involved officers later who were linked to corruption around the murder of Stephen Lawrence. Most of these internal probes were led by the MPS’s Complaints Investigation Bureau (CIB)

• Countryman – internal investigation into police corruption in the 1980s.
• Othona – internal investigation into police corruption in the 1990s, conducting surveillance of various detectives.
• Russell – internal investigation into police corruption in the 1990s, particularly the conduct of Commander Ray Adams.
• Tiberius – internal investigation in 2002 into police corruption. 

Two other investigations relevant to spycops-related issues are Operation Hibiscus and Operation Gilbert. These were overseen by the Independent Office of Police Conduct.

• Hibiscus – looked at a whistleblower’s complaint that the Metropolitan Police had destroyed documents related to spycops units that would have been of interest to the Undercover Policing Inquiry.
• Gilbert – investigated allegations police had been involved in hacking email accounts of environmental activists.

A third, related, investigation looked at whether the Metropolitan Police had deliberately destroyed material relating to Baroness Jenny Jones to frustrate her Subject Access Request. This investigation was not given an operation name.

The UCPI were also made aware of these particular investigations and issued Rule 9 questions to the Metropolitan Police as a consequence. For more on this see under the topic of Assurance.