Details
Details
Dates active:
-
Unit
MPSB
HN146 Colin Black
Overview

HN146 Colin Black was Operational Command Unit Commander from April to mid-December 1998 as a Superintendent, and continued in that role until June 2003 as chief superintendent and for a further six months as acting commander, Special Branch. 

During this time, he had oversight responsibilities for the Special Demonstration Squad.

Black submitted a witness statement to the Undercover Police Inquiry. During his oral evidence at the hearings on 14 July 2026, he defended the SDS against the charge that they were spying on the family of Stephen Lawrence, despite being presented with overwhelming evidence that they did so, and played down his responsibility for the malpractice that occurred while he was in command.

Full profile will follow.

HN146 Colin Black
2026
HN146 Colin Black

Reports

CSV
Date
Originator
MPS-UCPI
Title
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0735362
Special Branch Minute Sheet regarding surveillance of Geoff Sheppard
Colin Black
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0735375
Special Branch Briefing note regarding plans of Clarke and Sheppard to plant incendiary devices on 11 Sept 1987
Colin Black
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0735372
Special Branch Briefing note regarding reactivation of Operation Sparkler and surveilliance
Colin Black

Procedural

CSV
Date
Title
Document Type
Topic
Extension of time for service of anonymity applications by the MPS in respect of the SDS (Direction 12)
Order
Anonymity, Restriction order approach
SDS officers – Restriction Orders (Minded-To Note 1)
Minded-To Note
Anonymity
Press Notice: Minded-to Note, ruling and directions in respect of anonymity applications relating to the SDS
Press Notice
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers (August 2017 update)
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers (November 2017 update)
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers (January 2018 update)
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 4
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 5
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 6
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 7
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 8
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 9
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 11
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 12
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 13
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 14 and Ruling 14
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Ruling 16
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Ruling 17
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Ruling 18
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Ruling 19 (March 2021 update)
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Ruling 19 (September 2021 update)
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Ruling 20
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 16
Explanatory note
Anonymity
Explanatory Note to the Tranche 3 Timeline
Explanatory note
Timeline of SDS and commanding officers for Tranche 3
Timeline
Disclosure Note for the Module 2(b) element of Tranches 2 and 3
Counsel note