Anarchy Collective

The Anarchy Collective was a group of anarchists that organised political support campaigns and published Anarchy magazine. HN304 ‘Graham Coates’ infiltrated the group in 1977-1979, when the publication’s editorial team included Charlotte Baggins and Chris Broad.

Anarchy magazine had a long history. Its first series ran between March 1961 and December 1970 with articles on anarchism and reflections on current events from an anarchist perspective, such as workers' control, education, and housing. Anarchy Collective, Anarchy Magazine, Freedom Press, Anarchy Magazine archive March 1961-December 1970, 1 Mar 1961.

The second series of Anarchy magazine was published 1971-1980. The topics covered were as varied as the first, although they favoured more of an activist perspective than the theoretical emphasis of the first series. Topics included an analysis of tactics for dealing with fascism, the status of child care within capitalism, and the anarchist scene. The magazine was briefly revived in 1983. 

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HN304 Graham Coates HN304 'Graham Coates' 'Graham Coates' is the cover name of a former Special Demonstration Squad undercover officer who, between 1977 and 1979, infiltrated the International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party and spied on several anarchist group including the Zero Collective, Persons Unknown, Anarchy Collective and the Libertarian Anarchist Group. He gave evidence to the Inquiry on several undercovers' sexual relationships with activsts and that it was common knowledge in the SDS that such relationships took place. His real name has been restricted.  infiltrated the Anarchy Collective in 1977-1979. Coates said during his evidence that he authored more than one article for Anarchy. First Witness Statement of HN304 ‘Graham Coates’, given in the UCPI, Tranche 1, Phase 2, 11 Oct 2019.View Document   Anarchy Collective, Anarchy Magazine, Freedom Press, Anarchy Magazine archive March 1961-December 1970, 1 Mar 1961.  However, only one of his articles survives; 'Work and Non-Work'. Undercover Graham Coates' article ‘Work and Non-Work’ is on p10 of issue 24 of Anarchy magazine. Anarchy, issue 24 Anarchy Collective, Anarchy Magazine, Freedom Press, Anarchy Magazine archive March 1961-December 1970, 1 Mar 1961.

29 Grosvenor Avenue and Little A printers

During the 1970s, the magazine was based at 29 Grosvenor Avenue, Islington; a commune and later a housing co-operative. The people at No. 29 and their projects often raised the interest of the police and were raided earlier in the 1970s, in connection with the Angry Brigade The Angry Brigade The Angry Brigade was an anarchist political group that claimed responsibility for several bomb attacks in England between 1970 and 1972. The most serious of the incidents occurred on 12 January 1971, involving a bomb exploding in Home Secretary Robert Carr's house. Eight people were arrested. Those who stood trial became known as the Stoke Newington Eight, four of whom were convicted and sentenced to ten years. The Angry Brigade is mentioned in several SDS Annual Reports, but there is no evidence that the police unit infiltrated them.  police investigation. 

Chris Broad and Charlotte Baggins were part of the editorial team of the second series of the magazine. But 29 Grosvenor Avenue was also their home. Charlotte remarked: 

I was and still am outraged at the presence of an undercover cop in my home and his inclusion of my first-born's name in his reports.

Charlotte and Chris also set up the Little A printers' collective in 1977, which was first run out of a garage in Hackney. 

Later, in 1982, Little A was subject to a police raid. The SDS Annual Report SDS Annual Report 1982, inc Home Office letter authorising continuation, 11 Feb 1983, Metropolitan Police Special Branch, MPS-0730904.View Document  of that year claimed it was due to SDS intelligence that was likely produced by HN85 Roger Pearce 'Roger Thorley'. HN85 Roger Pearce 'Roger Thorley' Roger C Pearce is a former undercover police officer who rose to be Commander of the Metropolitan Police Special Branch (MPSB) and Director of Intelligence. Since retiring he has become an author of fiction. As 'Roger Thorley' he infiltrated anarchist groups, including Freedom Press, from 1979 to 1984 and wrote articles for Freedom News.  That raid was to prevent the distribution of a leaflet ‘We want to riot, not to work’, commemorating the 1981 Brixton Riots, and another publication.

No prosecutions followed, however, due to a lack of evidence.

Sources

Anarchy magazine archives. Anarchy Collective, Anarchy Magazine, Freedom Press, Anarchy Magazine archive March 1961-December 1970, 1 Mar 1961.

Dave Morris’ statement to the Undercover Policing Inquiry, that includes criticism of Graham Coates infiltrating the Anarchy Collective. Opening Statement of Dave Morris (non state core participant) for Tranche 1, Phase 2, given in the UCPI, Tranche 1, Phase 2, 23 Apr 2021.View Document