Blacklisting victims welcomed the identification yesterday of a senior police officer involved in the practice which wrecked the lives of more than 3,000 construction workers.

But one victim said that despite blacklisting being exposed in 2009 it continues today — and a Greater Manchester construction site implicated in the scandal is expected to be targeted for a national demonstration in the near future.

Documents leaked to left Labour MP John McDonnell named Chief Inspector Gordon Mills of the police’s National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit (Netcu) as having met with major firms linked to the Consulting Association. 

The Consulting Association provided workers’ names to construction companies, who funded the association.

In 2009 government officials raided its offices and found a list of more than 3,200 blacklisted construction workers.

Workers were blacklisted for being trade union activists or for raising health and safety issues. 

Campaigners against blacklisting have long claimed police colluded in the blacklisting system.

The documents leaked to Mr McDonnell appear to confirm their claims.

Construction electrician and blacklisting victim George Tapp welcomed the exposure of the officer.

Mr Tapp, of Salford in Greater Manchester, said: “It is important that people know. People on the blacklist have known for years that that police were involved, but we are supposed to live in a democracy. There should be a public inquiry.

“Even now it goes on. Blacklisting is in operation at the construction site for Carrington biomass power station in Greater Manchester. We plan to target it for a national demonstration.”