Undercover Policing Podcast

Retired #spycops officer HN326 alias "Doug Edwards" was deployed between 1968 and 1971. 

He infiltrated West Ham Anarchists where 'things got a bit tasty' as well as '"very pleasant, sociable people wrapped up in the world of intellectual Marxism" in the Independent Labour Party.

Read more about him here: https://powerbase.info/index.php/Douglas_Edwards_(alias)

Episode 1: "Doug Edwards"

Referred to as HN2 at the inquiry, Andy Coles went by the alias "Andy Davey" when he infiltrated animal rights and anti war groups in London between 1991 to 1995. Whilst deployed, despite being 32 and married with a baby daughter, he used his undercover role to manipulate and deceive a 19 year old woman who now uses the alias "Jessica" into a year-long intimate sexual relationship.

You can read more about him here: https://powerbase.info/index.php/Andy_Coles

You can find "Jessica"'s story in full here: https://policespiesoutoflives.org.uk/our-stories/jessicas-story-2/

Episode 2: Andy Coles & the tradecraft manual

Referred to as HN345 at the inquiry, the undercover officer who went by the alias "Peter Fredericks" as not deployed against any one specific group but reported back on an number, including the Black Power movement, Operation Omega and Young Haganah for six months in 1971.

You can read more about him here: https://powerbase.info/index.php/Peter_Fredericks_(alias)

Episode 3: "Peter Fredericks"

The Undercover Policing Inquiry has returned for Phase 2 of the first tranche of evidence. Here is a mixed bag of reflections on the first week.

You can read detailed daily and weekly reports on what is happening at the inquiry: http://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/ucpi-public-inquiry/

You can also tune in to live reaction videos whenever the inquiry goes to a break: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spycops

Episode 4: UCPI Tranche 1 Phase 2

The second phase of the first tranche of the Undercover Policing Inquiry is currently ongoing. 

This episode is two different chats about what's been happening: 
First Chris Brian from the Undercover Research Group talks to Penny about Day 9, when we heard from HN298 "Michael Scott" & "Mary.
Second, Tom Fowler talks to "Lisa" - https://twitter.com/JustLisa2010 about Day 11 when we heard from Celia Stubbs.

As ever, find out more at https://www.spycops.info

Episode 5: More Undercover Policing Inquiry

The Spycops Info Podcast is a weekly series that features the voices of activists, researchers and campaigners who have been targeted by Britain's secret undercover political police. Turning the tables on the units that infiltrated over 1,000 groups from 1968.

Visit our website:  https://www.spycops.info/spycopspod 

Series Trailer

Kate and Ben return to talk more about the case Kate brought to the Investigative Powers Tribunal, you can hear part one here: https://soundcloud.com/spycops/episode-6-kate-wilson-the-ipt-part-1

You can learn about her case at the Investigative Powers Tribunal: https://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/kate-wilson-case-exposing-institutional-sexism-spycops/

Follow Kate on twitter: https://twitter.com/fruitbatmania

Please support the pod by ordering some stickers: https://ko-fi.com/s/df86432870

Episode 16: Kate Wilson & the IPT Part 2

This third part on the legal action taken relating to undercover police officer Mark Kennedy at the Investigative Powers Tribunal. This episode looks at the actual trial of Kate Wilson's Human Right's claim at the High Court.

Part 1 (Episode 6): https://soundcloud.com/spycops/episode-6-kate-wilson-the-ipt-part-1
Part 2: (episode 16): https://soundcloud.com/spycops/kate-wilson-the-ipt-part-2

Look out for the 4th and final part of this mini-series once the judgement of the Tribunal is handed down. hopefully before the end of 2021.

Episode 17: Kate Wilson & the IPT Part 3

From the establishment of the Special Demonstration Squad in 1968,  annual reports were published to justify their continued existence. The first 15 year batch of these were some of  the first documents to be released by the Undercover Policing Inquiry, you can read them for yourself https://www.ucpi.org.uk/search-results/?fwp_type=annual-report

Chris Brian From the Undercover Research Group has read them all, in this episode he tells Tom Fowler the highlights and lowlights covered in the documents, from the death of Kevin Gately https://pasttenseblog.wordpress.com/2019/06/15/today-in-london-anti-fascist-history-1974-the-death-of-kevin-gately-opposing-national-front-demo/ to the Grunwick strike https://grunwick40.wordpress.com and a great deal more besides.

These documents represent the link between the grubby role of the secret undercover political police with the civil service and politicians. Chris mentions a PHD on this topic, which you can read here:   
https://research.edgehill.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/thatchers-culture-of-conformity-the-disintegration-of-partystate-

Find links to all our work at https://www.spycops.info please follow us on social media.

Episode 18: SDS Annual Reports 1968-84

In this mini series we are looking beyond undercover police to examine the civilian covert human intelligence sources that are used by police to target protest groups and undermine dissent.

In part one Tom Fowler is joined by Donal O'Driscoll from the Undercover Research Group to look at activists that are turned by the police to give them information "Grasses".

Part 2 will be out in a day or so.

No Comment: the defendants guide to arrest https://libcom.org/organise/no-comment-the-defendants-guide-to-arrest

If A Tree Falls: Story of the ELF https://www.IfaTreeFallsFilm.com

Episode 19: Informers, Infiltrators & Grasses Part 1: Grasses

In this mini series we are looking beyond undercover police to examine the civilian covert human intelligence sources that are used by police to target protest groups and undermine dissent.

In part two Tom Fowler is once again joined by Donal O'Driscoll from the Undercover Research Group , this time to look at people who willingly give information on activism to the police: "informers".

Part 3 "infiltrators" will be out in a day or so.

Bent Coppers: The Inside Story of Scotland Yard's Battle Against Police Corruption https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bent_Coppers

Untouchables: Dirty Cops, Bent Justice and Racism in Scotland Yard https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Untouchables.html?id=kYZ0QgAACAAJ

Episode 20: Informers, Infiltrators & Grasses Part 2: Informers

In this mini series we are looking beyond undercover police to examine the civilian covert human intelligence sources that are used by police to target protest groups and undermine dissent.

This instalment is an interview by Chris Brien with activist Tilly Gifford, who along with being targeted by undercover police was approached by Strathclyde police in 2009  to become a grass against the group she was involved with Plane Stupid. She made recordings of what happened and spoke out about it in the press.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/apr/24/strathclyde-police-plane-stupid-recruit-spy

Episode 22: Informers, Infiltrators & Grasses Part 4: Tilly Gifford

Jason Kirkpatrick is a climate change activist based in Berlin who was targeted by undercover police officer Mark Kennedy. He is now taking legal action in Germany over the deployment of British undercover police officers at the G8 summit in Heiligendamm in 2007. 

As mentioned in the episode, you can read reports from Statewatch at https://www.statewatch.org/news/2011/february/cross-border-spying-on-euro-anarchists-euro-police-link-updates-about-what-became-public-about-mark-kennedy-and-other-undercover-agents-in-germany-and-vice-versa-activities-of-german-undercover-police-in-uk/ and https://www.statewatch.org/analyses/2018/undercover-policing-the-alphabet-soup-of-cross-border-networks-groups-and-projects/

You can also read all about the movements of Mark Kennedy around Germany and elsewhere: https://powerbase.info/index.php/Mark_Kennedy:_A_chronology_of_his_activities

For information on Jason's film project: http://spiedupon.com/

and more from Jason: http://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/tag/jason-kirkpatrick/

Episode 23: Jason Kirkpatrick & the German court case

Despite the numerous deployments of undercover police officers in Scotland, the Public Inquiry is only concerned with events in England and Wales.

Tilly Gifford, raised a judicial review at the Court of Session to challenge the decision of the Home Office not to examine the role of covert policing north of the border. She also challenged the Scottish Government’s decision not to hold a public inquiry on the same issue.

Find out more: https://www.pilc.org.uk/public-inquiries/undercover-policing-inquiry-scotland/

Tilly previous appeared in episode 22 https://soundcloud.com/spycops/episode-22-informers-infiltrators-grasses-part-4-tilly-gifford

Episode 24: Tilly Gifford & the fight for a Scottish Inquiry

The next hearing of the inquiry will be taking place from Monday 9th May. In this show we preview what we might find out from the line up of mostly ex-managers from the Special Demonstration Squad 1968-82 giving evidence in these hearings.

Also taking a look at the many lies of someone who won't be able to give evidence, founder of the SDS, and author of his own fictional obituary, Conrad Dixon.
https://www.ucpi.org.uk/publications/the-times-published-obituary-of-conrad-dixon/

We mention the two exciting books that have recently been published: Small Town Girl by Donna Mclean 
https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/donna-mclean/small-town-girl/9781529379853/
and Deep Deception by Alison, Belinda, Helen Steel, Lisa and Naomi. http://smarturl.it/DeepDeceptionHB

Episode 25: Preview to the Inquiry Tranche 1 Phase 3

The Undercover Policing Inquiry is currently on Tranche 1, Phase 3, looking at Special Demonstration Squad managers 1968-1982.
Like all phases of the inquiry, it begins with opening statements.
This episode is the audio version of the daily reports from the opening statements. You can read them here:
Day 1: http://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/2022/05/09/ucpi-daily-report-9-may-2022/
Day 2: http://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/2022/05/10/ucpi-daily-report-10-may-2022/
Day 3: http://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/2022/05/11/ucpi-daily-report-11-may-2022/

Episode 26: UCPI T1P3 Opening Statements

The Undercover Policing Inquiryhas delivered it's interim report, covering "Tranche 1" looking at the Special Demonstration Squad between 1968-1982.
Your usual hosts Chris Brian and Tom Fowler are joined by "Jessica" twitter.com/Jessica_me2 and Kate Wilson twitter.com/fruitbatmania(& Ben) to discuss what in and been missed in the report and what we all make of it.
You can read a summary of the report here: https://policespiesoutoflives.org.uk/summary-of-ucpi-interim-report-june-2023/
And see the press conference at the launch of the report https://www.youtube.com/live/s8BkdBkjAOA

Episode 27: Interim Report

Roger Pearce is the first undercover SDS officer to give evidence during tranche 2 of the Undercover Policing Inquiry. 
Your usual host Tom Fowler https://x.com/tombfowler is joined by "Jessica" https://x.com/jessica_me2, Kate Wilson https:// x.com/fruitbatmania, and Ben to discuss the live evidence of him and the anarchists he spied on.

You can read a full report of the first week of the inquiry from the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance: http://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/2024/07/14/ucpi-weekly-report-9-8-11-july-2024/

The UCPI has finally uploaded some of the video of the day, and related documents: https://www.ucpi.org.uk/hearing/ucpi-evidence-hearings-tranche-2-phase-1-day-5/
 
You can support this podcast at https://ko-fi.com/tombfowler

Episode 29: Roger Pearce and the anarchists

HN95 Stefan Scutt / Stefan Wesolowski was one of the strangest spycops we've come across so far. 

Donal O'Driscoll https://x.com/PeterSalmon7 of the Undercover Research Group joins usual host Tom Fowler https://x.com/tombfowler to discuss the evidence that was recently introduced by the Undercover Policing Inquiry. https://www.ucpi.org.uk/individuals/hn-95/

You can read the report on that evidence from the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance: https://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/tag/stefan-scutt/#hn95

You can support this podcast at https://ko-fi.com/tombfowler

Episode 30: The Strange Story of Stefan Scutt

An interview with "Jenny" who recently gave evidence to the Undercover Policing Inquiry about her relationship with spycops officer HN78 Trevor Morris who she knew as "Bobby McGee". https://ucpi.org.uk/individuals/hn-78/

To respect her anonymity, the words of "Jenny" have been voiced by the wonderful actor Maxine Peake https://instagram.com/betteblavatsky who reenacts the original interview from the transcript. Regular host Tom Fowler https://x.com/tombfowler plays himself.

You can hear "jenny" give evidence to the inquiry https://youtube.com/live/60H07NJ9Qtw?si=pReVmsGZbn3LiinR&t=1080

You can watch the 3 days of Trevor Morris giving evidence too: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVuh3DVqvi5NLSplhL1ABr-RQEx-zg5UK

This episode was made in conjunction with regular collaborators Police Spies Out Of Lives https://policespiesoutoflives.org.uk

 You can support this podcast at https://ko-fi.com/tombfowler

Episode 32: "Jenny" - Me and Bobby McGee (Featuring Maxine Peake)

"Carlton King" is a recent alias of former SDS officer HN78 Trevor Morris, who was deployed in the early 90s against anti-racists and family justice campaigns. Using the identity of a dead child "Anthony Lewis" also going by "Bobby Lewis or more often "Bobby McGee", Morris has admitted to sexually abusing two women in the groups he infiltrated. https://www.ucpi.org.uk/individuals/hn-78/

Despite publishing an autobiography https://google.co.uk/books/edition/Black_Ops/nH3lnAAACAAJ and appearing in 100s of podcast episodes under the "Carlton King" identity https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-black-spy-podcast/id1581778436 Morris was not questioned about any of this when called to give evidence to the Undercover Policing Inquiry. 

BristleKRS https://x.com/BristleKRS joins regulars "Jessica" https://x.com/Jessica_me2 and Tom Fowler https://x.com/tombfowler to discuss what the inquiry either carelessly missed or wilfully ignored. 

You can watch Trevor Morris three days of evidence to the UCPI here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVuh3DVqvi5NLSplhL1ABr-RQEx-zg5UK

You can support this podcast at https://ko-fi.com/tombfowler

Episode 31: We need to talk about Carlton King

Regular member of the podcasting team "Jessica" https://x.com/Jessica_me2 sits in the pub with Tom Fowler https://x.com/tombfowler and chats about her upcoming appearance at the Undercover Policing Inquiry where she will be called to give evidence about the undercover police officer Andy Coles, who used the cover name "Andy Davey" but is better known in activist circles these days as "Shitface".

Jessica's Story: https://policespiesoutoflives.org.uk/our-stories/jessicas-story-2/

Episode 33: Shitface - the former conservative councillor Andy Coles

First in a mini-series on the Special Branch cops that shaped the Special Demonstration Squad. Starting with the 'Brash Chancer' Conrad Dixon who claimed to have founded the unit.

Chris Brian https://x.com/bristolnoborder from the Undercover Research Group returns to "go retro" with Tom Fowler https://x.com/tombfowler and have a look at the early days of the spycops unit.

Inquiry documents relating to Dixon: https://www.ucpi.org.uk/individuals/hn-325/

Episode 35: Class of 68 Part 1: Cap'n Birdseye navigating by calculator

The second part of our mini-series on the senior officers from the early days of the Special Demonstration Squad. We now go on to the "backroom fixer' Phil Saunders who was singled out for critism in the interim report from the inquiry.

Chris Brian x.com/bristolnoborder from the Undercover Research Group continues the conversation with Tom Fowler x.com/tombfowler.

Inquiry documents relating to Phil Saunders: https://www.ucpi.org.uk/individuals/hn-1251/

Episode 36: Class of 68 Part 2: The Car Crash Fixer

The Undercover Policing Inquiry was meant to return for Phase two of Tranche two on Monday 30th September, but it didn't. 

Kate Wilson https://x.com/fruitbatmania joins Tom Fowler https://x.com/tombfowler to discuss why that is, and look at all the goings on behind the scenes that show just how dysfunctional the whole process has been.

Tranche 2 Phase 2 will now start on Monday 14th October, with live hearings starting on Monday 21st October at the International Dispute Resolution Centre, London. You can register now https://www.ucpi.org.uk/2024/09/27/registration-open-for-inquirys-tranche-2-phase-2-hearings/

Episode 34: Inquiry in Chaos

First appearance on the podcast by Liz Fuller https://x.com/Lizfuller1, a woman who was deceived by HN1 into a long term intimate relationship, she joins with Chris Brian https://x.com/bristolnoborder from the Undercover Research Group and Tom Fowler https://x.com/tombfowler to discuss both his recent appearance giving evidence at the undercover policing inquiry and her own. 

More information on the undercover officer HN1 who used the cover name "Matt Rayner":
https://powerbase.info/index.php/Matt_Rayner_(alias)
https://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/tag/matt-rayner/

Credit for the cover illustration to Oliver Saunders KC who's suggestion of aging an old photograph of HN1 was presented to a free online AI.

Episode 37: HN1, the lying prick who called himself Matt Rayner

Following an open letter from Core Participants https://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/2025/03/10/treat-us-fairly-demand-spycops-inquiry-participants/, the Chair of the Undercover Policing Inquiry John Mitting called a directional hearing. Chris Brian https://x.com/bristolnoborder from the Undercover Research Group sat down with Tom Fowler https://x.com/tombfowler to discuss what happened. With voices from coverage from the day including Zoe Young https://x.com/zoeyou, James Simpson https://x.com/jameshsimpson, Kate Wilson https://x.com/fruitbatmania, "Jessica" https://x.com/jessica_me2, Ben https://x.com/GringoBen, Mr Abney https://x.com/MrAbney1904.

Hearings at the inquiry are not meant to return until October 2025, in the meantime you can support more episodes of this podcast at https://ko-fi.com/tombfowler

Episode 38: Mitting's Directional Blame Game

Tenacious researcher and persistent investigator into police, justice and secret service activities Eveline Lubbers https://x.com/evelinelubbers from the Undercover Research Group joins regular host Tom Fowler https://x.com/tombfowler to talk about the new extensive resource website for all things undercover policing https://spycopsresearch.info

She also talks about her background in the Amsterdam squatter movement as part of the legendary Buro Jansen & Janssen in the 1980s leading to her involved in McSpotlight in the 1990s https://mcspotlight.org

We also chat about the upcoming 'Demand The Impossible' theatre production https://commonwealththeatre.co.uk/shows/demand-the-impossible/

Episode 39: Eveline Lubbers - Watching the Detectives

With the return of the Undercover Policing Inquiry only a month away, Chris Brian https://x.com/bristolnoborder of the Undercover Research Group and Tom Fowler https://x.com/tombfowler discuss all the news that has come out over the summer and preview the next set of hearings. https://ucpi.org.uk/2025/08/18/inquiry-announces-updates-to-the-tranche-3-phase-1-hearings-schedule/

Three former undercover officers will be giving evidence before Christmas 2025, James Thomson, Peter Francis and Mark Cassidy. 
https://powerbase.info/index.php/James_Straven_(alias)
https://theguardian.com/uk/peter-francis
https://policespiesoutoflives.org.uk/our-stories/alisons-story-new/

If you'd like to support Tom's work
https://ko-fi.com/tombfowler
or Chris' running:
https://justgiving.com/page/chris-brian-2

Episode 40: Mitting Retires and Tranche 3 Phase 1 Preview

A new immersive theatrical production about political repression, blacklisting and undercover police by Common/Wealth is due to open in October 2025.
https://commonwealththeatre.co.uk/shows/demand-the-impossible/

Rhiannon White https://linktr.ee/rhi_annon_white, Hussina Raja https://hussinaraja.com, Bianca Ali https://instagram.com/bitchinwithbianca and Soul Roberts https://instagram.com/soulroberts1 sit down with regular hosts Chris Brian https://x.com/bristolnoborder of the Undercover Research Group and Tom Fowler https://ko-fi.com/tombfowler to discuss how they came to be making a play on this topic and what they are hoping to communicate to audiences.

Episode 41: Demand The Impossible - Spycops The Musical

Legendary activist and one of the most spied upon people in the UK, Dave Morris https://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/tag/dave-morris sits down with regular host Tom Fowler https://ko-fi.com/tombfowler to discuss the successes that have been achieved in holding the spycops to account. 

From his vantage point as a veteran of fighting through the legal system, and a litigant in person at the Undercover Policing Inquiry, Dave reflects on ten years at the UCPI and points out the many ways in which those who were targets of the state have won significant victories throughout the process.

Dave's prominence in anarchist activism https://radicalhistorynetwork.blogspot.com/2024/04/dave-morris-tottenham-community.htm has meant his name appears in numerous undercover police reports during every era https://ucpi.org.uk/individuals_name/dave-morris, having been involved in projects from London Workers Group and Anarchy magazine https://libcom.org/tags/dave-morris to London Greenpeace and McLibel https://mcspotlight.org, he is still active with Haringey Solidarity Group https://haringey.org.uk.

Episode 42: Reasons To Be Cheerful with Dave Morris

The Undercover Policing Inquiry recently disclosed the closing report of the Special Demonstration Squad, written in 2008. 

Returning regular guest Donal O'Driscoll https://x.com/petersalmon7 of the Undercover Research Group sits down with regular host Tom Fowler https://linktr.ee/tombfowler to review it's contents.

They discuss what the substance of the report reveals, how the authorities knew about the unit's malpractices years earlier than claimed and if published sooner, why the conclusions feel prescient about the outcomes of any report on the first three tranches of the Inquiry.

You can download and read the report for yourself https://ucpi.org.uk/publications/sds-closing-report

Tranche 3 of the inquiry is currently ongoing, with both Donal and Tom attending every day of hearings, you can keep up with all the coverage by following the social media links on our newly relaunched website https://spycops.info

The thumbnail is of a Special Branch commemorative retirement gift watch, it's is unknown if these were issued to former SDS officers or not.

Episode 43: 'Shoddy and thoroughly dishonest' - The SDS Closing Report

Nick Gratwick was not an undercover police officer, but was no less an infiltrator of environmental activism and animal rights . His recent convictions for child sex offences https://theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/oct/10/man-convicted-of-38-paedophile-offences-revealed-as-police-informer-who-spied-on-uk-activists confirmed what many activists had long believed.

Donal O'Driscol https://x.com/PeterSalmon7 of the Undercover Research Group joins Tom Fowler https://linktr.ee/tombfowler to talk about his in depth report on how "Radio Nick" infiltrated protest groups for both the Thames Valley Police and clients of the private intelligence firm Verify Ltd. 
https://spycopsresearch.info/sites/default/files/2025-11/Gratwick%20Report%201%20-%202025.pdf

Gratwick was active from 1995 to 2006, these investigations began in 2014, many people from all aspects of his campaigning life have been interviewed. If you knew or have any information about him, please contact donal@undercoverresearch.net 

The Undercover Policing Inquiry is currently ongoing, every monday to thursday, most of it broadcast on youtube, alongside activists reactions https://bit.ly/Spycops

If you are able to support this work, donations are very welcome https://ko-fi.com/tombfowler

Episode 44: This Is Radio Nick

Podcast series about the secret undercover political police who infiltrated over 1,000 campaign groups in the UK. Stealing dead children's identities, deceiving women into long term sexual relationships, in some cases fathering children. 

Tasked with undermining democratic participation in politics, these "spycops" were publicly unmasked by activists in 2010. This led to a police apology, significant disclosure and now a Public Inquiry into Undercover Policing since 1968.

Presented by some of the activists affected, joined by large rotating cast, this weekly series covers all aspects of the issue. With profiles of officers, reports from legal hearings, discussions with researchers, lawyers and other activists.

Spycops Info

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