Tranche 2 of the Undercover Policing Inquiry examined the middle period of the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), from 1983 to 1992 (though it will also included several officers who have been moved from Tranche 1).The officers moved from Tranche 1 to Tranche 2 hearings are HN12 ‘Mike Hartley’, HN19 ‘Malcolm Shearing’, HN20 ‘Tony Williams’, HN65 ‘John Kerry’; HN67 ‘Alan Bond’; HN83; and HN85 Roger Pearce / ‘Roger Thorley’. Tranche 2 officers in this era include HN10 Robert Lambert ‘Bob Robinson’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', HN11 Mike Chitty / ‘Mike Blake’HN11 Michael Chitty 'Mike Blake'HN11 Michael Chitty (cover name 'Mike Blake') was the first undercover officer in the Special Demonstration Squad who infiltrated groups within the animal rights movement between 1983 and 1987. This included the South London Animal Movement (SLAM). He had sexual relationships with women in his target groups, and returned to the activist scene using his cover identity post-deployment. He has refused to cooperate with The Inquiry.Full page: HN11 Michael Chitty 'Mike Blake', 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', and HN2 Andy Coles / ‘Andy Davey’HN2 Andrew Coles 'Andy Davey'HN2 Andy Coles (cover name 'Andy Davey') was an SDS undercover officer who infiltrated peace and animal rights groups in South London between 1991 and 1995. While deployed, he had a sexual relationship with 'Jessica', who was 19 years old at the time.
After his deployment, he updated the SDS Tradecraft Manual. Coles was exposed as a spy and immediately resigned as the Police and Crime Commissioner of Cambridgeshire. Full page: HN2 Andrew Coles 'Andy Davey'. Thirty undercover deployments were covered.
Due to the volume of live evidence and the importance of the former undercovers' role in the spycops scandal, the hearings were split into two phases.
Phase 1 was heard from 1 July to 2 August 2024, including the evidence of HN85 Roger Pearce 'Roger Thorley'HN85 Roger Pearce 'Roger Thorley'Roger Pearce is a former undercover police officer who rose to be Commander of the Metropolitan Police Special Branch (MPSB) and Director of Intelligence. Since retiring he has become an author of fiction. As 'Roger Thorley' he infiltrated anarchist groups, including Freedom Press, from 1979 to 1984 and wrote articles for Freedom News.Full page: HN85 Roger Pearce 'Roger Thorley' and HN78 Trevor Morris 'Bobby Lewis'.HN78 Trevor Morris 'Bobby Lewis'HN78 Trevor Morris 'Bobby Lewis' was an SDS undercover officer between 1991 and 1995. He infiltrated the Socialist Workers Party. During his deployment, he had at least two sexual relationships. He wrote a self-published biography, named 'Black Ops', with the title referring both to his ethnicity and the fact he worked both for Special Branch and MI6.
The second set of hearings ran from 21 October 2024 to 13 February 2025. They mainly focused on animal rights-related undercovers from the era, including HN10 Robert Lambert 'Bob Robinson'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'
, HN2 Andy Coles 'Andy Davey'HN2 Andrew Coles 'Andy Davey'HN2 Andy Coles (cover name 'Andy Davey') was an SDS undercover officer who infiltrated peace and animal rights groups in South London between 1991 and 1995. While deployed, he had a sexual relationship with 'Jessica', who was 19 years old at the time.
After his deployment, he updated the SDS Tradecraft Manual. Coles was exposed as a spy and immediately resigned as the Police and Crime Commissioner of Cambridgeshire. Full page: HN2 Andrew Coles 'Andy Davey' and 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' The second part of Phase 2, in early 2025, heard evidence from the managers, effectively being Phase 3 of the Tranche.
Key statistics
Evidence was collected from 36 former SDS officers, 13 SDS managers / adminstrators and 59 from individuals and groups who were targeted.
There were 60 days of evidential hearings over the two phases, during which 48 witnesses: 11 undercovers, 5 managers and and 32 non-state civilians gave live testimony.
Over 3000 pieces of evidence were published by the Inquiry, the majority being reports from the undercovers, but also SDS annual reports, etc. Also published was material from a further 7 SDS undercovers and 4 targeted individuals / groups.Fourteenth Update Note, 22 Jan 2026, UCPI.View Document
