Evidence in the Undercover Policing Inquiry to Reveal Further Scandal by the Metropolitan Police’s Special Demonstration Squad.

The hearings for Tranche 3 Phase 2 of the Undercover Policing Inquiry began on 2 February 2026 and will continue until 26 March 2026.

This phase will examine the actions of Metropolitan Police Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) officers who infiltrated animal rights groups, and various social, political and environmental campaigns, between 1993 and 2007. The Inquiry will consider the justification for and impact of this covert policing, including the serious harm experienced by individuals subjected to sexual deception by undercover officers.

During this phase, the Inquiry will hear from undercover officers HN14 Jim Boyling (aka ‘Jim Sutton’), HN3 (aka ‘Jason Bishop’), HN104 Carlo Soracchi (aka ‘Carlo Neri’), HN118 (aka ‘Simon Wellings’), HN18 Robert Hastings (aka ‘Robert Harrison’) and the civilians targeted during their deployment.

The groups targeted included Reclaim the Streets, Genetic Engineering Network, the Hunt Saboteur movement and International Solidarity Movement (ISM) London. Hodge Jones & Allen represents clients who were involved in these groups during the T3P2 period.

The Inquiry is also scheduled to hear from several Hodge Jones & Allen clients, including Roger Geffen and “GRD”, who were spied on by HN14 Jim Boyling and HN3 ‘Jason Bishop’. Their evidence, being heard on 4 February, will address key events including the ‘Carnival Against Capitalism’ in July 1998.

Evidence will also be provided to the Inquiry about undercover officer ‘Jim Sutton’ HN14’s appearance in his cover identity as a co-defendant at a trial in January 1997 of activists charged after a protest at London Underground Ltd’s Headquarters in August 1996. This revelation resulted in Jay (JJ) Jordan’s (formerly John Jordan) conviction being quashed after a referral by the CCRC in September 2014. The Inquiry will also hear evidence about HN14’s role as a defence witness to an incident in February 1996, during which a group of hunt saboteurs were charged with public order offences. They were tried in June 1996, and were represented in court by Keir Starmer, then a junior barrister. Mike Schwarz, acted for the defendants in both cases.

On 18 March, the Inquiry will hear from “Maya”, a woman deceived into a sexual relationship by HN18 Robert Hastings. “Maya”, also represented by Hodge Jones & Allen, will describe the profound and lasting impact of Hastings’ conduct.

The position statements on behalf of the Core Participants (CPs) Hodge Jones & Allen represents can be found here & here.

The Inquiry will commence hearings for Tranche 3 Phase 3 in July 2026.

Hodge Jones & Allen represents dozens of Core Participants in the Undercover Policing Inquiry. The legal team is headed by Mike Schwarz, Susie Labinjoh and Cormac McDonough.