Questions in the House House of Commons Monday, 10 January 2011 Points of Order 4.39 pm Column 44 Mr David Winnick (Walsall North) (Lab): On a point of order, Mr Speaker. There is a good deal of disquiet over the proceedings against six demonstrators. The case has been dropped because the police were very reluctant to give information about an undercover agent. It is not unknown, of course, for police officers to act as undercover agents, and in many cases it is perfectly justified, such as in terrorism cases that safeguard our country. It appears that the police constable in this case was not just an undercover agent; he has more or less admitted that he was acting as an agent provocateur-there is no other way to describe it. Is there any way in which the Home Secretary can be asked to make a statement on this case, which as I said is creating a good deal of disquiet? Mr Speaker: It is up to a Minister in the Home Office or another relevant Department to decide whether to make a statement. On the face of it, this seems to be good material for a business question. The hon. Gentleman might want to raise the matter at the appropriate slot on Thursday. That is the best that I can offer him at the moment. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110110/debtext/110110-0002.htm#1101109000707
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Later, David Winnick MP, a Labour member of the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, said: "The concern is not the fact that the Metropolitan Police, and possibly other police forces, use undercover agents. No-one is so naive as to believe that that hasn't been the case since time began. My concern is the manner in which it has been alleged that Kennedy acted almost as an agent provocateur. In these circumstances, I think (Home Secretary Theresa May) should come to the Commons and make a statement." ~~~~~~~~~~~~ House of Lords Wednesday, 12 January 2011. Police: Protest Groups Question 3.41 pm Asked By Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the police about the use of undercover operations in relation to environmental protest groups. The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Neville-Jones): My Lords, decisions on intelligence gathering are operational matters for chief officers 24