THE Metropolitan Police has spent over £145,000 defending civil claims from women deceived into forming intimate relationships with undercover officers, it was revealed yesterday.

Green Party London Assembly Member Jenny Jones has established that the Met has spent £147,120 defending the claims after she wrote to the Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

The disclosure came as the Met agreed to comply with a High Court judgement and reveal whether two officers, known by the aliases Jim Sutton and Bob Robinson, had had relationships with women while working undercover. 

“After three years of legal battles it really is time for the Met to stop wasting public money fighting these women, who have suffered at the hands of undercover officers,” Ms Jones said.

“The recently announced public inquiry into undercover policing means that the truth is going to come out.

“Instead of continuing with this expensive legal battle the Met should learn the value of an apology.”