Police ‘knew of undercover officer’s relationship’

POLICE have admitted that supervisors knew about a sexual relationship between an undercover officer and a member of public and let it continue, campaigners say.

Kate Wilson, who was involved with Mark Kennedy for two years, has accused managing officers in the Metropolitan Police of conspiring to “deceive and abuse” her and lashed out at the force for denying it.

The social and environmental justice activist is one of eight women who took the police to court after they were duped into relationships by undercover officers.

After reaching a settlement with seven of them in 2015, the Met said the relationships would not have been authorised in advance or used as a tactic.

Ms Wilson won a High Court battle against the Met in 2016 after it withdrew from the case. She stated at the time that supervising officers were negligent and had acted improperly in causing or allowing the relationship to happen, accusing the force of dropping its defence to avoid handing over key documents.

The Investigatory Powers Tribunal is due to hear her case against the Met, alleging breaches of the Human Rights Act on October 3.

A document released yesterday by Police Spies Out Of Lives, the organisation providing legal support to the women, said police have “admitted to the Tribunal that an as yet unknown number of cover officers and a line manager knew about and acquiesced to the relationship”.

“This ... suggests a deliberate strategy, and not a ‘failure of supervision’ as claimed,” the document states.

Ms Wilson’s relationship with Mr Kennedy began in 2003, although he was not unmasked until 2011.