Home AffairsLetter from Deborah Glass, Deputy Chair, Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), 13 March 2013

Operation Herne

I refer to your letters of 21 January and 8 March 2013. First I must apologise for the delay in substantive response; as you were advised in response to your letter of 21 January, I was on leave until the middle of February and I am afraid that your letter has only now been brought to my attention.

I should explain at the outset that it is not entirely accurate to say that the IPCC is supervising Operation Herne. The IPCC is supervising a small number of referrals from the MPS being investigated as part of Operation Herne. Specifically, this concerns the activities of four former undercover officers, in relation to a range of offences including fraud, forming inappropriate sexual relationships, unauthorised disclosure of information, playing a key part in organising demonstrations and providing evidence in court using a pseudonym.

I am of course aware of the MPS announcement that Operation Herne would be taken over by Chief Constable Mick Creedon, and I am currently awaiting a meeting with Mr Creedon to identify precisely what his terms of reference are so that I can review them as well as the appropriate level of IPCC involvement. I agree, in principle, that terms of reference for an investigation should be discloseable and intend to explore further why this has not yet happened in these cases.

I will be in further contact when I have been able to clarify these matters.