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Undercover police convictions to be reviewed

THE government announced the launch yesterday of a major review of criminal convictions secured in cases involving undercover police following a series of high-profile scandals.

Home Secretary Theresa May said the review would examine whether convictions are safe in cases where undercover activity was not revealed to the prosecutor and therefore not considered by the court.

The review will be led by Mark Ellison QC, who previously carried out the Stephen Lawrence independent review.

“Undercover police operations are vital in the fight against crime,” said Ms May.

“If allegations of wrongdoing are made, it is important they are investigated thoroughly.

“Where Mark Ellison’s review identifies a potential miscarriage of justice, the case may be referred to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.”

The review comes in the wake of findings of Mr Ellison’s probe into the handling of the Stephen Lawrence investigation.

Mr Ellison found that a police “spy” was working within the “Lawrence family camp” during the judicial inquiry led by Sir William Macpherson in the late 1990s.

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