We need to make greater use of child spies, says minister

POLICE and intelligence agencies should make greater use of child spies to investigate terrorists, gang violence, drug dealing and sexual exploitation, the security minister has said.

Ben Wallace said there was scope to recruit juvenile undercover agents because growing numbers of children are now involved in serious crime, both as perpetrators and victims.

Records show children, mostly aged 17, have already been used as “covert human intelligence sources” (CHIS) to gather information on murder, gang violence, drug dealing and weapons.

The evidence emerged in a legal challenge in the High Court by Just for Kids Law, a charity that campaigns to protect children from physical and emotional harm. It claims children’s human rights are being breached.

The Home Office, defending, maintains children are used only when necessary and can play an important part in tackling serious crime. In documents before the court, Mr Wallace said it was important to recognise children could have “unique access to information that could prevent and prosecute gang violence and terrorism”.

The legal action followed moves by the Government to increase the amount of time under-18s can operate undercover from one to four months.

The Home Office maintains one month puts unnecessary pressure on children and their handlers to get results. Officials say operations would be reviewed monthly to consider any welfare or safety concerns.

Caoilfhionn Gallagher, QC for Just for Kids Law, said in one case a girl aged 17 was recruited to spy on a man who had sexually assaulted her and continued to do so while she was undercover. She later became an “accessory to murder” as she witnessed a killing.

Ms Gallagher said there was need for “stringent safeguards” for child spies. She contrasted the way they lacked the protection of an “appropriate adult” with children questioned by police over minor offences such as shoplifting.

James Eadie, QC for the Home Office, said child spies had only been used in exceptional cases.

Neil Wood, a former undercover police officer who organised child spies, told the court such covert operations were highly dangerous.

During his 13 years undercover he said he had been aware of maimings, torture and burning of suspected informants. “It is not yet adequately acknowledged how psychologically damaging spying is to an individual of any age,” he said.