It is a dark secret that, in order to maintain their cover, ‘deep’ undercover officers may have to engage in sexual intercourse with those they are investigating. I knew two outstanding women narcotic officers from New York who worked deep undercover and ‘slept’ with some big-time drug dealers, thereby negating any suspicion they might be cops.
That is NOT the case with undercover officers working prostitution cases. They should never, under any circumstances, have sex with a prostitute. As a matter of fact, they should not even take their clothes off. Their credibility in court would take a big hit if it were revealed they had sex with the defendant.
PROMISCUITY ‘PART OF THE JOB’ FOR UK UNDERCOVER OFFICERS
Former agents used sex in infiltrating anarchist organizations
Press Association (UK)
January 24, 2011
UNITED KINGDOM - Police used sex as a tool during undercover operations - and tactical "promiscuity", sanctioned by senior commanders, was viewed as "part of the job", a former agent revealed today.
The officer, who worked in a secretive unit of the Metropolitan Police for four years, said sexual relationships with activists were common among those gathering intelligence from anarchist, left-wing and environmental groups.
His claims, made to The Observer, contradict comments made last week by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) which insisted the practice was forbidden.
But the former officer, once a member the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), a covert unit formed to prevent violent disorder on the streets of London, said sex helped to maintain cover. He is not named.
He has admitted to sleeping with at least two of his female targets for information.
"Everybody knew it was a very promiscuous lifestyle," he told the paper.
"You cannot not be promiscuous in those groups. Otherwise you'll stand out straight away."
Meanwhile, there was also no set of instructions dictating whether officers could or could not have sex with activists, he claimed.
"Among fellow undercover officers, there is not really any kudos in the fact that you are shagging other people while deployed," he added.
"Basically it's just regarded as part of the job. It'd be highly unlikely that you were not [having sex].
"When you are using the tool of sex to maintain your cover or maybe to glean more intelligence - because they certainly talk a lot more, pillow talk - you would be ready to move on if you felt an attachment growing."
However, the officer, who infiltrated anti-racist groups between 1993 and 1997, said falling in love could jeopardize an investigation and was regarded as unprofessional.
His revelations follow the controversy surrounding former Met officer Pc Mark Kennedy who monitored the actions of protesters across Europe under the guise of a long-haired, drop-out climber called Mark Stone.
The case against six demonstrators accused of conspiring to shut down Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station collapsed earlier this month after the officer offered to give evidence on their behalf.
In an interview with The Guardian, Jon Murphy, ACPO's spokesman on serious and organized crime, said sexual relationships for the purpose of intelligence gathering was "grossly unprofessional" and "absolutely not authorized".
"It is never acceptable for an undercover officer to behave in that way," he added.
Inspectors are now to review how the National Public Order Intelligence Unit, to which undercover officer Mark Kennedy belonged, is currently run by ACPO with plans to transfer control to Scotland Yard.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary has launched its own investigation, saying it would look at "the operational accountability of undercover work" and "how intelligence activity is authorized in accordance with law, including consideration of the proportionality of covert tactics".
The Serious and Organized Crime Agency has also been asked to carry out an independent review of Mr Kennedy's deployment as an undercover officer.
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