Tranche 3 Phase 3 Evidential Hearings

Tranche 3 Phase 3 hearings of the Undercover Policing Inquiry took place from 15 June to 30 July 2026 at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in central London. As with Phase 2, there were no opening statements delivered, but core participants submitted 'position statements' in advance. The hearings focused on the managers of the SDS for the Tranche 3 era, from 1992 to 2007 when the Special Demonstration Squad was closed down.

This set of hearings focused on the managers of the SDS, Module 2(a), as well as senior managers higher in the chain of command, Module 2(b). These included Sir Paul Condon, the only Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to give evidence, as well as Assistant Commissioners for Special Operations David Veness and Bob Quick. Also called were non-Special Branch officers who had been involved in the investigation of Stephen Lawrence murder and the use of intelligence gathered on the murdered teenager's family. 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

The SDS managers heard were from the level of detective sergeant and responsible for the day to day running of the unit, to managers of the entire unit such as HN10 Bob Lambert and HN58. Much was focused on how much they knew of the undercover abuses, particularly relationships, and the quality of their management approach overall, including matters such as training and reporting. A number were asked questions which had emerged in the hearings of undercovers, who pointed to the managers. Other topics included Operation Lime, the resistance to change and the reasons for closing the SDS.

A final date was incorporated on 21 September 2026, to hear late evidence from HN60 ‘Dave Evans’ who had been caught out misleading the Inquiry about a relationship. It also saw the concluding day of evidence from Helen Steel.