Undercover revelations that put Yard in spotlight

THE scandal of undercover police officers who had sex with activists in groups they infiltrated is likely to become one of Scotland Yard’s most damaging episodes.

For four decades, officers from the disbanded Special Demonstration Squad allegedly tricked women whom they were targeting into sexual relationships.

Almost half of the officers used names of dead babies to create cover stories with birth records.

MPs, trade unionists and justice campaigners, such as those in anti-racism groups, were targeted. Some police were arrested alongside activists, prompting concerns the targets did not get a fair trial. Around 60 convictions have been quashed and 80 more could go the same way.

Allegations of inappropriate sexual relationships emerged in 2011 when an officer offered to help defend six environmental campaigners in court whom he had infiltrated. The trial later collapsed. A public inquiry into the scandal was set up in 2015.