Details
Details
Alias:
Andy Davey
Deployment:
-
Deceased Child’s Identity:
No
HN2 Andrew Coles ('Andy Davey')
Overview

Below are adapted excerpts from profles of Andrew Coles: https://powerbase.info/index.php/Andy_Coles and in his undercover identity of of 'Andy Davey': https://powerbase.info/index.php/Andy_Davey_(undercover_alias_of_Andy_Coles)' 

Jessica' and Coles gave evidence to The Inquiry in 2025. An updated profile will appear on this page.

HN2 Andy Coles ('Andy Davey') is a minor Conservative Party politician. He was previously a Detective Inspector with the Metropolitan Police and served with ACPO TAM. It was revealed in a book by his brother that he had been a Special Demonstratio Squad undercover, Andy 'Van' Davey, who infiltrated animal rights groups in London 1991 to 1995. The story broke on 12 May 2017 when 'Jessica', a woman he targeted for a relationship while undercover came forward to tell her story.

Andy Coles was deployed into the London animal rights scene in late 1991 in South London, using the cover name Andy Davey, though he gained the nickname 'Andy Van'. He remained active for the next couple of years, exiting in February 1995. He is a contemporary of another undercover officer in animal rights, Matt Rayner, and the pair were involved in a number of the same pan-London campaigning groups. Both officers would have been part of the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), within the Metropolitan Police Special Branch.

 

Reports

Date
Originator
MPS-UCPI
Title
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0527598
Appendix A to Tradecraft Manual

Procedural

Date
Title
Document Type
Topic
Extension of time for service of anonymity applications by the MPS in respect of the SDS (Direction 12)
Order
Anonymity, Restriction order approach
SDS officers – Restriction Orders (Minded-To Note 1)
Minded-To Note
Anonymity
Press Notice: Minded-to Note, ruling and directions in respect of anonymity applications relating to the SDS
Press Notice
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers (August 2017 update)
Explanatory note
Anonymity
The Guardian – Submissions on restriction order applications in response to the 3 August 2017 Minded-To Note
Submissions
Anonymity
Directions on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and SDS restriction order applictions (Direction 16)
Direction
Anonymity, Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers (November 2017 update)
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers (January 2018 update)
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 4
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 5
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 6
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 7
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 8
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 9
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 11
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 12
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 13
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 14 and Ruling 14
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Ruling 16
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Ruling 17
Explanatory note
Anonymity
NSCPs and Police – Core Participants (Ruling 37)
Ruling
Core participants
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Ruling 18
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Ruling 19 (March 2021 update)
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Ruling 19 (September 2021 update)
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Ruling 20
Explanatory note
Anonymity
CTI – Explanatory note on restriction order applications for SDS officers following Minded-To 16
Explanatory note
Anonymity
Inquiry publishes information in relation to SDS officers whose deployments fell within Tranche 2
Press Notice

References

Author(s)
Title
Publisher
Year
Why is Spycop Andy Coles Still Silent?
Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance
Rob Evans
Met upholds complaint of woman ‘deceived’ by undercover officer
The Guardian