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Members of Doughty Street Chambers deliver opening statements for Tranche 3 Phase 1 of the Undercover Policing Inquiry

This week James Wood KC, Maya Sikand KC, Fiona Murphy KC and Kirsten Heaven delivered Opening Statements for Tranche 3, Phase 1 in the Undercover Policing Inquiry. See here for details of this phase.

During the course of these hearings, the Inquiry will hear evidence on topics related to undercover policing including:

  • The conduct of undercover officers, including the deception of women into relationships

  • The use of deceased children’s identities by undercover officers

  • Decisions related to targeting and deployments into groups, including but not limited to Family Justice Campaigns, including the Stephen Lawrence Campaign

  • The training and supervision provided by managers, and the extent to which they were aware of the conduct of the officers.

James Wood KC opened on behalf of various justice campaigns. He leads Lily Lewis of Garden Court Chambers, instructed by Mike Schwarz of Hodge Jones & Allen. The Opening Statement can be viewed here and the full written submissions can be read here.

Maya Sikand KC opened on behalf of Peter Francis, the former undercover officer and only police whistleblower. She leads Laura Profumo, also of Doughty Street Chambers, instructed by Erin Alcock and Emma Jones at Leigh Day. The Opening Statement can be viewed here and the full written submissions can be read here.

Adam Straw KC wrote the opening statement for Neville Lawrence, alongside Ifeanyi Odogwu of Matrix, instructed by Susie Labinjoh and others of Hodge Jones Allen. The Opening Statement can be viewed here and the full written submissions can be read here.

Fiona Murphy KC opened on behalf of the relatives of dead children whose identities were appropriated by the undercover officers. She leads Shanthi Sivakumaran, also of Doughty Street Chambers, instructed by Jules Carey and Khariya Ali of Bindmans LLP. The Opening Statement can be viewed here and the full written submissions can be read here.

Quincy Whitaker represents Marc Wadsworth, a journalist and anti-racism campaigner, led by Charlotte Kilroy KC of Blackstone Chambers, instructed by Sarah McSherry of Birnberg Peirce Solicitors. The Opening Statement and full written submissions can be read here. 

Piers Marquis represents political campaigners and anti-fascist activists, ”Youth Against Racism in Europe, Hannah Sell and Lois Austin, ‘Lewis’ and Judy Beishon, and the former Labour MP Dave Nellist, with James Scobie KC of Garden Court Chambers, instructed by Paul Heron at Public Interest Law Centre. The Opening Statement can be viewed here and the full written submissions can be read here.

Kirsten Heaven opened on behalf of the Co-operating Group of non-police non-state Core Participants. She leads Angelina Nicolaou and Natalie Csengeri of One Pump Court Chambers, instructed by Lydia Dagostino of Kellys. The Opening Statement can be viewed here and the full written statement submissions can be read here.

Harriet Johnson represents a number of women who were deceived into relationships by the undercover officers, led by Charlotte Kilroy KC with Tom Lowenthal of Blackstone Chambers, instructed by Gareth Peirce and Elizabeth Forrester of Birnberg Peirce Solicitors. The Opening Statement can be viewed here and the full written submissions can be read here.

Sam Jacobs represents a number of justice campaigns, led by Leslie Thomas KC of Garden Court Chambers, instructed by Simon Creighton of Bhatt Murphy. The Opening Statement can be viewed here and the full written submissions can be read here.