Undercover police officers spied on the justice campaign led by the family of Jean Charles de Menezes, the innocent man shot dead by police in 2005, a public inquiry has revealed.
Surveillance of Grieving Family
The surveillance occurred while the family sought accountability from the Metropolitan police and answers regarding the circumstances of his death, where officers mistakenly believed he was a suicide bomber and shot him seven times in the head. This incident triggered a significant crisis for Scotland Yard and its reputation.
Evidence presented to the inquiry on Thursday included reports detailing the family’s plans to lay flowers at an event commemorating De Menezes’s death. Patricia Armani da Silva, the cousin of De Menezes, stated she was “deeply shocked we were spied on.” She emphasized that the family’s campaign was peaceful, stating, “At no point did I or the people within our campaign ever advocate or condone public disorder, breaking the law or subversion of any kind.”
Scotland Yard maintained a secret file on the family’s campaign, documenting meetings and identifying supporters and their email addresses. The Met has since acknowledged that this covert monitoring was “wholly unjustifiable.”
Broader Context of Undercover Policing
The inquiry, led by retired judge Sir John Mitting, is investigating the conduct of approximately 139 undercover officers who infiltrated primarily leftwing and progressive groups between 1968 and 2010. A key issue is the repeated surveillance of families grieving the deaths of relatives killed by police or while in custody, including the campaign for justice following the murder of Stephen Lawrence.
Police have argued that monitoring these families was incidental to their primary goal of observing activists supporting them, to determine if those campaigns were being exploited. Undercover officers, such as Robert Hastings and one operating under the alias Simon Wellings, gathered intelligence on the family’s activities, including planned commemorations.
Da Silva as well noted that the family spent considerable time correcting false statements made by police about De Menezes, which originated from senior officers. These included claims that he had not responded to a police challenge and was wearing suspicious clothing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the current inquiry?
The inquiry, led by Sir John Mitting, is examining the conduct of about 139 undercover officers who infiltrated mainly leftwing and progressive groups between 1968 and 2010.
What did the family have to correct after De Menezes was killed?
The family had to spend much of its time correcting repeated lies that the police had spread about De Menezes, including claims that he had failed to respond to a police challenge and had been wearing suspiciously bulky clothing.
When was Jean Charles de Menezes killed?
Police firearms officers killed De Menezes in July 2005 at Stockwell tube station in London.
Given the revelations of past surveillance, what level of trust can be rebuilt between law enforcement and communities impacted by tragic events?
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