Reforms of undercover policing already underway

The National Policing Lead for Undercover Policing, Deputy Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said:

"Undercover officers perform some of the most difficult roles in policing, Home Affairs Select Committee described undercover policing as 'a vital element in the fight against terrorism and serious and organised crime'.

“HMIC recognises the bravery of undercover officers and agrees that this is a critical and legitimate tactic in protecting the public. Police leaders have a responsibility to make sure that these operations are properly authorised, managed and overseen. We support HMIC’s recommendations and are already putting them into place.

"Unacceptable behaviour by a number of undercover officers in the past has been brought to light and is being investigated. We have learned many lessons from these cases. We are disappointed that the report does not acknowledge many of the positive changes that are already being delivered in undercover policing.

“I want to reassure the public that undercover operations are subject to a scrupulous authorisation process and are now rigorously overseen. We must not forget the bravery of undercover officers and that this tactic has saved lives, protected victims and brought dangerous criminals to justice.”

Further information:

The national undercover working group is meeting every two months to deliver a very detailed programme of change that includes all the recommendations made by HMIC.

An oversight group has been set up to build and maintain strategic support from chief constables.

From January this year, the authorisation level for advanced undercover operations increased to assistant chief police officer level and these officers have been trained to perform this role.

Any undercover operation that takes more than 12 months now must be authorised by the chief constable with prior approval from a surveillance commissioner.

On leadership of the National Undercover Working Group

The National Policing Lead for Undercover Policing, Deputy Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said:

“Commander Richard Martin made a decision in August 2014 that, as undercover policing is such an important issue, that the working group would benefit from the leadership of a more senior police officer with a greater influence nationally. The role was advertised to chief police officers and I was appointed to take on leadership of the group. Richard Martin is still providing a valuable contribution to the working group and has done an outstanding job in designing the programme of work that is now delivering the improvements that the report recommends.”

Notes to Editors

1) Undercover policing is a portfolio of the National Policing Crime Business Area (CBA) which falls within the Serious and Organised Crime category of the CBA’s work.

For more information contact

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk

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The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is an independent, professionally led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with Government and partner agencies, ACPO leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of the police service in the United Kingdom. In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, co-ordinates the strategic policing response. 

ACPO’s 295 members consist of 213 chief police officers from the home forces of assistant chief constable rank (commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, plus 55 senior police staff members from the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Non home forces such as British Transport Police have 24 chief police officer members and there are three members from the Service Police.