Tranche 2 Phase 2

The Tranche 2 Phase 2 hearings of the Undercover Policing Inquiry took take place from 14 October 2024 to 13 March 2025 at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in central London, though in January 2025 it sat at Aldwych House. It began with two days of opening statements, heard on 14 and 15 October, with evidential hearings beginning proper on 21 October.

It heard testimony from four  undercovers who infiltrated animal rights groups in the 1980s and 1990s, 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 Andrew 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' .  All four officers had sexual relationships under their cover identities. It also heard testimony from the managers in the Tranche 2 era (technically phase 3). 

In Tranche 1, nearly all relevant documentary evidence was published on the day of the relevant hearing. This was not so with this phase, with the both officers written statements and hearing transcripts having substantial delays prior to publication. 

Given the prominence of a number of the undercovers and what they have been accused of, much of their evidence took a number of days each. There was also considerable testimony from a number of campaigners in relation to them, as well as women deceived into relationships.

Evidence relating to HN5 John Dines 'John Barker' 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'  and HN11 Michael 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' , was only partially addressed, as they were unwilling to appear and as they reside outside England and Wales, the Inquiry has no power to compel them.

The hearings also had multiple Restricted Reporting Orders put in place to protect sensitive information relating to witnesses being more widely disseminated. However, it lead to an issue whereby they prevented broadcasts of the evidence, which was addressed at Procedural Hearing 16 on 5 November 2024.