Excerpt: "Four undercover police officers who were accused of deceptively forming relationships with women they were spying on were told they will not face charges for their actions."
Four undercover police officers who were accused of deceptively forming relationships with women they were spying on have been told they will not face charges for their actions. (photo: Carl Court/AFP)
UK Undercover Police Officers Will Not Face Rape Charges
22 August 14
our undercover police officers who were accused of deceptively forming relationships with women they were spying on were told they will not face charges for their actions.
The officers from the now-defunct Special Demonstration Squad infiltrated environmental campaign groups under fake identities.
The four were investigated for crimes including rape and sexual assault after several women accused them of forming relationships with them on false pretences between 1987 and 2007, even fathering children.
But on Thursday the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the officers would not face charges.
"Having carefully considered all the available evidence, provided at the end of a thorough investigation, we have determined that there is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction for any offences against any of the officers," the CPS said in a statement.
Green party politician Jenny Jones, who has campaigned in support of the women, said she found the decision "staggering".
"The CPS appears not to have looked at the use of sexual relationships as a systematic tactic," Jones said. "One of the victims of these officers said she felt as if she had been 'raped by the state'."
A civil suit brought by eight women continues in the high court.
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