Nottingham Indymedia: 'mark_kennedy'

HMIC report: "disgusting and farcical"

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:29:43 +0000

Last week saw the publication of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary’s "review of national police units which provide intelligence on criminality associated with protest." This was one of the array of reports commissioned in the aftermath of the revelations about undercover police officer Mark Kennedy. The report, like the "Rose Report" into the CPS’ failure to disclose key evidence, has not been greeted warmly by activists. FITwatch went as far as to describe it as "disgusting and farcical."

On the newswire: Mark Kennedy: the HMIC report | HMIC review of police “domestic extremism” units | HMIC report disgusting and farcical | HMIC report into policing protest

Previous features Women sue Met over undercover cops | First report into undercover policing: “whitewash” | Undercover police officer back in the spotlight | Mark Kennedy/Stone exposed as undercover

Women sue Met over undercover cops

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:40:04 +0000

Eight former lovers of undercover cops have started legal action against police chiefs for the psychological suffering they’ve endured. The women include three former lovers of Mark Kennedy, two former lovers of Jim Boyling, and women who had relationships with “Mark Cassidy”, Bob Lambert and “John Barker” – a name that doesn’t seem to have been associated with undercover policing of activism before.

On the newswire: FULL statement from women suing police | Women take legal action against undercover cops

Previous features: First report into undercover policing: “whitewash” | Undercover police officer back in the spotlight | Mark Kennedy/Stone exposed as undercover

Women take legal action against undercover cops

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:21:09 +0000

According to a new article in the Guardian, 8 former lovers of undercover cops have started legal action against police chiefs for the psychological suffering they've endured. The women include three former lovers of Mark "only twice" Kennedy, two former lovers of Jim Boyling, and women who had relationships with Mark Cassidy, Bob Lambert and John Barker - a name that doesn't seem to have been associated with undercover policing of activism before (but could it be this man?)

First report into undercover policing: "whitewash"

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:10:29 +0000

The first of twelve official reports resulting from the public outing of undercover police officer Mark Kennedy and the subsequent collapse of the trials of 26 climate change activists has been published. The report claims that there was no “dishonest withholding of information” and no “systemic” failings, a conclusion the CPS have been happy to repeat. Critics of the report have dismissed it as a “whitewash.”

On the newswire: Further police evidence shocks ‘to come to light’ | Police under fire .. collapse of eco-protest trial | Rose Report on the Ratcliffe Trial | CPS report on Ratcliffe Power Station Case | Report into Mark Kennedy’s secret tapes published

Previous features: Undercover police officer back in the spotlight

Climate activists' convictions quashed

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 18:35:46 +0000

The convictions of 20 climate activists were quashed by the Court of Appeal on Wednesday. The 20 had been convicted of conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass at Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, in December last year. However, revelations about the withholding of evidence gathered by undercover police officer Mark Kennedy led to the Director of Public Prosecutions requesting an independent review into the safety of the prosecutions. Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, said the convictions had been a miscarriage of justice.

On the newswire: Climate activists’ convictions quashed | HM Court of Appeal: Lord Chief Justice Appeal Judgement on Ratcliffe20 | NottinghamshirePolice extremely disappointed shame | Ratcliffe power station protesters cleared on appe | Ratcliffe Crown Court Trial 'Collected Report' PDF

Previous features: Guilty verdict in Ratcliffe trial | Ratcliffe Trial: Week 2 | Ratcliffe Trial: Prosecution Opens | Ratcliffe Conspiracy Trial Begins | Mass Arrest of 114 Climate Activists in Raid

Corporate spy was active in Nottingham

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 19:22:30 +0000

The Mark Kennedy case has thrown the world of police and private spying on activists into the spotlight. One of the many revelations about Kennedy is that he can be linked to private spying company Global Open. Kennedy worked as a consultant for them and set up his own company, Tokra, using the address of Global Open director Heather Millgate.

Nottingham Indymedia can reveal that a second spy linked to Global Open, Paul Mercer, was actively involved with environmental and animal rights campaigns in Nottingham, including Nottingham Against Incineration and Landfill (NAIL). Mercer was involved in groups in Nottingham in the period 2002-2007.

Mercer was publicly exposed for his role in spying on anti-arms trade campaigners, Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) in 2007. His contract for the operation was finalised through Global Open.

Links: The ‘censored’ Mark Kennedy article | Mark Kennedy, Global Open Ltd and E.ON | BAE admits paying agents to investigate CAAT | NAIL Public Debate 12/4/06

Previous Features: Undercover police officer back in the spotlight | Mark Kennedy/Stone exposed as undercover

Undercover police officer back in the spotlight

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 09:38:09 +0000

The Met Police are facing serious questions and the threat of an investigation into the role of one of their undercover officers. PC Mark Kennedy infiltrated activist groups between 2003-2009. On Monday, the second trial relating to planned action at Ratcliffe on Soar power station collapsed after the prosecution offered no evidence. This is believed to be an attempt to conceal the extent of involvement of their undercover officer, Kennedy, who was one of those arrested in connection with the action. He was described as having taken a leading role in planning the action and has been described as an agent provocateur by some.

Newswire: Second Ratcliffe trial collapses | Ratcliffe Trial: Media interest outside court | Ratcliffe: 2nd Court Case of 6 activist Collapses| Video: Ratcliffe Trial Collapses: Solicitors Statement & media questions on Nttm Crown Court Steps

Previous feature: Mark Kennedy/Stone exposed as undercover