In collaboration with the Bristol Radical History Group, we take a deep-dive into the SpyCops scandal.
For over 40 years, British undercover agents spied on people in the UK and many other countries. The police unit infiltrated more than 1,000 activist groups (and victims including the family of Stephen Lawrence). To carry out their spying, the police stole the identities of deceased children. Under false identities, they started relationships with women, had sexual relations and even children. As soon as they had achieved their goals, they disappeared without a trace.
The truth about the department only slowly came to light after the exposure of police informer Mark Kennedy in 2010, who was mainly targeting climate groups. Since 2015, the events have been clarified in a judicial investigation. Important hearings are held in secret. However, several dozen real names of the police spies are now known.
With the enquiry still proceeding and police powers seemingly increasing, this story is still very current.
We will be joined for a Q&A with Bristol Radical History Group, Eleanor Fairbraida (victim) and Chris Brian (researcher).
Eleanor Fairbraida is a social and environmental activist who was a named target of undercover policeman Mark Kennedy. Eleanor lived in three different houses with Kennedy, who she knew as Mark Stone. She considered him one of her best friends, and they were even lovers at times. She is a core participant in the Undercover Policing Inquiry, initially known as ‘Jane’ until she waived her right to anonymity in 2023.” She is currently suing the police about her sexual relationship with Kennedy.
The movements Chris Brian has belonged to and the people he knows have been heavily
impacted by undercover policing. Chris is a member of the Undercover Research Group, which supports those activists most affected by surveillance. URG helps them piece together fragmentary evidence from multiple sources to uncover whether they have been spied on and by whom.
Since the Undercover Policing Inquiry has been in session, URG has been collating and summarising this massive and unprecedented release of information released by the Inquiry to analyse and contextualise the workings of the secret state. Their research can be read on the www.spycopsresearch.info website.
Please note: doors open at 7pm and there will be stalls and conversation in the bar before the screening starts at 7:30pmDirected By:
Justyn Jones, Madoc Roberts
Running time:
90 + 30 mins