I knew a SpyCop & he had a beard
The Undercover Policing Inquiry as resumed in central London a year after the last hearings and will continue until May 20th.
Reviewing previous evidence it’s interesting to note from an historical point of view how much it adds and how much it doesn’t to the recent history of the left in Britain.
For example I knew and would have been in meetings with one Spycop who was active in North London.
Details are in file HN80 which consists of the officer who had the cover name Colin Clark answering a detailed questionnaire at some length. A lot of it consists of Clark pointing out that reports attributed to him were not in fact his.
However he presented as a motor mechanic living in Muswell Hill and was actively involved in a range of left-wing groups including the SWP, Anti Nazi League and the Right to Work Campaign from 1977 to 1982.
He appeared from distant memory not that regularly using the excuse that he was busy working. It seemed, again from memory, a little odd but the left historically has attracted people who come to anti-capitalist politics from many diverse directions, not always the most obvious ones.
My main memory of him was that he had a magnificent beard but his file reveals that even this was just a cover. His file records that he was normally smart, clean shaven and wearing a suit and tie but to become active on the left he dressed down, grew a beard and had longer hair.
What ‘Clark’ did was deplorable and legally doubtful but all the organisations he infilitrated operated openly and legally. Ultimately over 5 years he discovered nothing of any interest at all and makes no claim to have done. He was wasting police time and public money.
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