The Lambert Report

The Lambert Report, or more formally Discussion Paper on SDS Targeting Strategy and Deployment in Relation to the Animal Liberation Front, was an investigation by HN10 Robert Lambert ‘Bob Robinson’, HN10 Robert Lambert 'Bob Robinson' Bob Lambert, using the cover name 'Bob Robinson' infiltrated Animal Rights campaigns as a SDS officer between 1983 and 1988. He fathered a child whilst undercover, with 'Jacqui'. He was also involved in the planting of an incendiary device, which resulted in two other people going to prison. He returned to the SDS as a manager (1993-1998) and oversaw further controversies. He later became an academic in the field of 'Terrorist Studies'.  a former Special Demonstration Squad officer and manager, into the activities of several former undercovers, in particular HN11 Michael Chitty ‘Mike Blake’, HN11 Michael Chitty 'Mike Blake' HN11 Michael Chitty (cover name Mike Blake) was the first undercover officer in the Special Demonstration Squad who infiltrated groups within the animal rights movement between 1983 and 1987. This included the South London Animal Movement (SLAM). He had sexual relationships with women in his target groups. He also returned to the activist scene using his cover identity post-deployment. He has refused to cooperate with The Inquiry.  but also identifying problems with the deployments of undercovers HN155 ‘Phil Cooper’ HN155 'Phil Cooper' 'Phil Cooper' is the fake name of an SDS undercover who joined the unit in Autumn 1979. He was deployed into the Socialist Workers Party via the Waltham Forest Anti Nuclear Campaign and worked in the national SWP headquarters. Inquiry Chair Mitting found as a matter of fact that he had several casual sexual relationships while undercover. His real name has been restricted.  and HN95 Stefan Scutt ‘Stefan Wesolowski’. HN95 Stefan Scutt 'Stefan Wesolowski' HN95 Stefan Scutt 'Stefan Wesolowski' was an SDS undercover officer who infiltrated the Hackney South Branch of the Socialist Workers Party between November 1985 and June 1988. Scutt was sacked from the SDS in 1988 following a decline in his productivity as an undercover officer. Although he would have continued to work for Special Branch in another capacity had he not then gone AWOL and suffered a mental breakdown, resulting in his arrest. Although Scutt appeared to have committed multiple disciplinary offences following a cover-up by senior police officers, he was eventually retired on medical grounds.

It noted that Chitty, after his deployment had ended and taken up duties as a protection officer, had returned to socialising with members of his target group, this only being discovered when spotted by another undercover. HN155 and HN95 were considered to have gone rogue and jeopardised the secrecy of the SDS by their actions. These two were also viewed with suspicion by management for claiming psychiatric issues arising from their undercover work.

It had passed into the hands of The Guardian journalists Rob Evans and Paul Lewis with the result that the Chitty case was referenced in their book Undercover: the true story of Britain’s secret police. Rob Evans & Paul Lewis, Undercover: The True Story of Britain’s Secret Police, Faber, 2014.  

As such, the journalists were aware of the real name of HN155 ‘Phil Cooper’, a point which was raised during the anonymity hearings as it impacted on whether granting a restriction order over the real name had any practical value should the journalists decide to release it. The Inquiry Chair, Sir John Mitting directed that submissions on the matter needed to be made and the issue was addressed at the hearing of March 2018. 

Sir John Mitting eventually ruled that HN155’s real name would remain restricted as it was not knowledge readily available. However, the issue did mean that the Inquiry made the Lambert Report public, albeit in redacted form.