It's a long read but there's such a swathe of witnesses, issues & horrendous behaviours it can't be covered in a few words. We've broken it into sections with jump-to links in the intro at the top so you can read it in several sessions. Or settle in for a big immersion now the weekend's here.

And while you're here, check out Raphael's book 'Spycops - Secrets and Disclosure in the Undercover Policing Inquiry'

policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/spycops

Spycop HN16 James Thomson deceived several women into long-term intimate relationships and managed to wangle holidays in France and India at taxpayers' expense. Thomson himself will give evidence for five days, starting tomorrow. We'll be reporting, as always.

It's something that we've seen from other #spycops, exaggerating and inventing dangers from activists because it's what their bosses wanted to read, it meant the officer's deployment would be extended, and nobody was ever going to check if any of it was actually true.

For more about #spycops officer HN15 James Thomson, see the Undercover Research Group's profile: www.spycopsresearch.info/spycops/hn16...

Though #spycops often stole dead children's identities as the basis of their undercover persona, that's not the case here - Thomson stole the identity long before he was deployed. His managers knew about this crime & did nothing.

As Doreen Lawrence said when that decision was taken: 'They were doing the deception. Why should they be allowed to be anonymous while people like me had their faces all over the newspapers? These people were not innocent. They knew what they were doing.'

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015...

Hagan will not appear at the Undercover Policing Inquiry & the hearing was a waste of everybody's time. When the government announced the inquiry, Hagan was the only officer singled out. The announcement mentioned him four times. Hagan will also continue to have anonymity at the inquiry.

After public condemnation, the Inquiry held a hearing where lawyers for numerous people who were spied on explained why Hagan should be compelled to give evidence. The Inquiry's Chair, Sir John Mitting, had already made up his mind and he didn't budge.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Though the Inquiry agrees officer HN81 'Dave Hagan' is a key witness - he spied on the justice campaigns for Stephen Lawrence, Ricky Reel, Joy Gardner & Roger Sylvester - he has been excused from giving evidence because his deployment left him with PTSD, diagnosed 20 years ago.