header-logo header-logo

Sex, lies & videotape

24 March 2011 / Richard Scorer
Issue: 7455 / Categories: Features , Personal injury
printer mail-detail
personal_injury_4

Richard Scorer investigates the world of undercover police work

It has been revealed that undercover police officers infiltrated anarchist and environmental groups and tried to use sexual relationships with female activists as a means of garnering intelligence. Mark Kennedy, an undercover officer who had sexual relationships with several women while infiltrating a ring of activists, alleges that these relationships were sanctioned by senior commanders in the Metropolitan Police. While his claims of official authorisation are disputed, it seems clear that a number of undercover agents engaged in a deliberate “strategy of promiscuity”. The affected women have expressed feelings of anger and trauma. Could they bring damages claims against the Metropolitan Police?

Provided sex occurs between consenting adults, the fact that one party to the relationship has lied to the other is obviously not actionable in itself. A sexual encounter which is consensual at the time it occurred would not become “rape” simply because one party pretended to be motivated by love. However, in this situation the state is involved in perpetrating the deceit,

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
back-to-top-scroll