Inquiry hears claims of 10 or more women having sexual relations with undercover officer who infiltrated eco-activists
Mark Kennedy’s evidence saying he had sexual relationships with two people is disputed by women taking legal action against the police. Photograph: Philipp Ebeling
Mark Kennedy, the police spy who infiltrated the environmental movement, appears to have misled parliament over the number of sexual relationships he had with women while he was working undercover.
Kennedy told a parliamentary inquiry that he had only two relationships during the seven years he spied on environmental groups.
However, at least four women had come forward to say that he slept with them when he was a police spy.
Friends who knew Kennedy when he was living as an eco-activist in Nottingham have identified more than 10 women with whom he slept.
Kennedy was the only undercover police officer to give evidence to the inquiry conducted by the home affairs select committee.
He testified in private, but transcripts of his evidence released on Thursday reveal that he claimed he had sexual relationships with “two individuals”.
But three women who say they are Kennedy’s former lovers are part of an 11-strong group taking legal action against police chiefs for damages.
A fourth, named Anna, previously told the Guardian she felt “violated” by her sexual relationship with Kennedy, which lasted several months.
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Rob Evans and Paul Lewis
The Guardian, Friday 1 March 2013
Find this story at 1 March 2013
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