Apartheid protesters’ convictions quashed

THREE anti-apartheid campaigners found guilty of public order offences more than 50 years ago have had their convictions overturned after it emerged that an undercover police officer lied about his identity at their trial.

Prof Jonathan Rosenhead, Christabel Gurney and Ernest Rodker were arrested in 1972 after blocking a coach carrying the England rugby union team as it left for South Africa, and were convicted of obstructing the highway.

The convictions have now been quashed after details of an undercover Metropolitan Police officer’s role were given to the Undercover Policing Inquiry in 2021. The Special Demonstration Squad officer, using the name Michael Scott, was told by handlers to use his fake identity when prosecuted.

The prosecution and judge were not told of Scott’s identity. Helen Pitcher, chairman of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, said had the judge had all the facts, he would have halted the trial.

In a joint statement, the protesters said they were “delighted” that the convictions had been overturned.

Mike Schwarz, the group’s lawyer, said: “These convictions should never have happened. The deployment of undercover police into the anti-apartheid movement was unjustifiable, legally and morally.”