Deceiving women into sex was part of role, spycops inquiry hears

Senior managers permitted undercover police officers to deceive women into sexual relations, the spycops public inquiry has heard.

- Rob Evans

Peter Francis, a whistleblower who was an undercover officer, said sexual relations were "an ordinary part of the undercover role... it was regarded by officers and management alike as part of the work".

He added that two managers who supervised the covert unit advised him to use condoms while having sex with activists while undercover.

His evidence undercuts statements by senior police officers who have denied, or have been reluctant to admit, that undercover officers who infiltrated political movements formed sexual relationships with women without telling them their real identities.