A new ethics committee on policing in London is to examine the controversy surrounding the actions of Scotland Yard’s undercover officers, its chairman said today.
Lord Carlile of Berriew said it would examine major issues of concern to Londoners and suggested that undercover policing would be among the first items on the agenda.
Boris Johnson today announced the appointment of Lord Carlile, the former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, as the chairman of the Ethics Panel, which the Mayor set up to increase trust in the force after a series of allegations, including undercover officers having relationships with activists and using the identities of dead children.
Lord Carlile QC said the panel would tackle single issues: “For instance, it may well be that we look at the ethical background to undercover policing.”
He said he hoped the panel would establish a code of ethics for policing similar to guidance issued by professional bodies.
The panel will include people with experience of policing issues in London and will begin work in the new year.
