HN83 was an SDS undercover officer deployed against one group in the mid-1980s; they later carried out some 'welfare' work for the SDS. Both the real and cover names are restricted by the Inquiry. To date, no other information is known about the officer beyond a few details provided in their applications for anonymity.
All information below is taken from HN83's impact statement.
HN83 expressed anger toward HN10 Rober Lambert ('Bob Robinson'):
I feel let down and betrayed by some of the undercover officers, particularly Bob Lambert. I don't understand why he courted publicity after his deployment. I feel some sympathy for some of the more fragile officers and I think the actions of Bob Lambert and others in their self-inflicted exposure has caused this wider exposure on all of us.
and:
I feel that at the time we were deployed we as undercover officers were doing the job professionally. Having now read some of the revelations in the media, I feel the whole SOS/SOS is being disavowed by the Metropolitan Police. feel sad that membership of a squad which had been something to be proud about isn't anymore.
All that is known of HN83 is from the procedural documents. According to the gist of the Risk Assessment for HN83. He was approached by a senior manager on the SDS at the time. HN83 does not remember details of recruitment apart from it being quite informal. HN83 spent time in the back office learning what the SDS was about and speaking to [undercover] officers. There was no psychometric testing in those days.
A senior manager visited HN83 and their partner at home and initiated the recruitment, and they were given unequivocal assurance regarding future anonymity and a specific assurance regarding a career after deployment.
Of secrecy, they wrote in their personal statement:
Secrecy was emphasised at all times in the SDS/SOS and it was common parlance that we would always be protected. I never doubted that total anonymity would be granted for us and I recall being told this by a senior officer, a Chief Superintendent, whilst I was preparing for my deployment. That officer also emphasised that confidentiality was a two-way street and I was expected to act accordingly. Whilst I understood that if we had been involved in a major prosecution we may have been exposed (we couldn't forget after all that we were police officers), such a major prosecution was the only exception and was unlikely given we were told not become directly involved in the group's actions and only capture intelligence.
The Undercover Policing Inquiry noted that HN83 was involved in a no-fault accident with a vehicle provided by the MPS as part of the cover identity. This was reported to the police using the cover identity. HN83 also assisted with the domestic life of one of the target group
They were nearly compromised on a number of occasions, during and after deployment but claimed they had no sexual relationship whilst undercover.