Undercover

Andy Whittaker investigates how involved MI5 was in the deployment of undercover officers with political and protest groups and shares analysis of the first official report from the chairman at the public inquiry. Also former undercover officer Neil Woods shares his thoughts on undercover policing in general.

How undercover police officers contributed to an illegal blacklist being maintained in a secretive Worcestershire business called the ‘Consulting Association’.Featuring Dave Smith and ‘Madeleine’ who talks about how a knock on her front door from a representative of the undercover policing inquiry, changed her life.

Donna McLean, and ‘Lindsey’ share details of their long relationships with spycop Carlo Neri.

Exploring the activities of ’Rod Richardson', the last undercover cop to use the identity of a dead child. The real Rod Richardson died three days after his birth and his mum campaigned for justice until she passed away. Andy Whittaker also meets Frank Bennett, whose brother Michael Hartley had his identity used by a police officer after he died.Featuring intelligence expert John Buckley and Sumac Centre volunteers Sasha and Heather.

Officers from the ‘Special Demonstration Squad’, known as the SDS, are revealed. This secretive police department has been spying on activists since 1968 and two officers fathered children with their targets.‘Rosa’, ‘Jacqui’ and Helen Steel talk about their former partners who were later revealed to be Jim Boyling, Bob Lambert and John Dines. Also, activist John from Oxford and Lawyer Mike Schwarz discuss John's appeal after originally being convicted over a planned protest at Ratcliffe on Soar power station.

Explore what happened next and what was real as we uncover more stories from women who were deceived into sexual relationships.

‘Lisa’ continues the story of what happened after she discovered a passport in Mark Stone’s real name of Mark Kennedy.The shockwaves that rippled through the activist community as a result of this revelation are discussed by Donal O’Driscoll, Eleanor Fairbraida, Jason Kirkpatrick, Ronny, Carley, James and Pat Smith. Also featuring BBC journalist Jeremy Ball and Guardian newspaper journalist Rob Evans.

In 2009, a covert plan to shut down Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station is prevented by a police raid. One of the people arrested is undercover police officer Mark Kennedy.Andy talks to other people who were there and talks to Doctor Tom Rogers from Nottingham Trent University about how shutting down a power station would affect the UK’s power supply.

In 2006, Mark Stone appears on TV news with his head secured to a gate with a D lock at Hartlepool Nuclear power plant. Andy discusses the incident and meets more of Mark's friends from that year.Also, former undercover officer Neil Woods talks about whether it’s acceptable to break the law whilst undercover and ‘Lisa’ recalls the moment she realised she was deeply in love with Mark Stone.

Andy Whittaker hears about an odd incident when Mark's ‘friends’ come from London. It’s described by Eleanor Fairbraida and her housemate Ronny.There's more about Mark's relationship with Kate Wilson and his friendship with Jason Kirkpatrick.We also hear from activist Tim, Doctor Tom Vickers from Nottingham Trent University and former undercover officer Neil Woods.Sarah Hampton is played by Karen Noble.

Andy Whittaker explores how an undercover police officer infiltrated a group of climate activists in Nottingham. Eleanor Fairbraida and Ronny, discuss the first time they met Mark Kennedy aka 'Mark Stone'. Also former undercover officer Neil Woods, lifts the lid on the secrets of his old job. Andy also hears from volunteers Pat Smith and Katie and ‘Lisa’, who went on to have a long term sexual relationship with Mark without ever knowing who he really was.Mark's deployment still leaves many unanswered questions, which a judge-led public inquiry is trying to solve.