Key Takeaway
Senior officer behind closure says SDS caused ‘incalculable harm’ by infiltrating groups that posed no threatAn undercover police unit that spied on tens of thousands of political activists had to be shut down amid severe criticisms and recriminations, the spycops public inquiry has heard. Jon Boutcher, a senior police officer who took over responsibility for the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS)…
Published August 2, 2026 · Category: News
Overview
Senior officer behind closure says SDS caused ‘incalculable harm’ by infiltrating groups that posed no threat
An undercover police unit that spied on tens of thousands of political activists had to be shut down amid severe criticisms and recriminations, the spycops public inquiry has heard.
Details
Jon Boutcher, a senior police officer who took over responsibility for the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) unit, concluded within months that it had to be wound up because it was conducting unjustified surveillance and was badly run.
Continue reading...
Source
Originally published at www.theguardian.com.
Related Articles
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "Undercover police unit closed down over unjustified surveillance, spycops inquiry told" about?+
Senior officer behind closure says SDS caused ‘incalculable harm’ by infiltrating groups that posed no threatAn undercover police unit that spied on tens of thousands of political activists had to be shut down amid severe criticisms and recriminations, the spycops public inquiry has heard.Jon Boutcher, a senior police officer who took over responsibility for the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) unit, concluded within months that it had to be wound up because it was conducting unjustified survei
Who reported this story?+
This story was reported by The Guardian World.