Police pay compensation to 7 women led into 'abusive' and 'deceitful' relationships with undercover officers

Living a lie: Bob Lambert and the son he fathered while spying on his mother

Scotland Yard apologised to seven women who were deceived into "abusive, deceitful, manipulative and wrong" relationships with undercover police officers.

The Metropolitan Police said it has reached a settlement with the women over civil claims relating to the "totally unacceptable" behaviour of a number of officers working for two now disbanded units.

Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewit said: "I acknowledge that these relationships were a violation of the women's human rights, an abuse of police power and caused significant trauma.

"I unreservedly apologise on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service. I am aware that money alone cannot compensate the loss of time, their hurt or the feelings of abuse caused by these relationships."

A woman who had a child with a man she did not know was an undercover copbanked £425,000 from the Metropolitan Police.

Former Special Branch detective Bob Lambert used the pseudonym Bob Robinson and was tasked with infiltrating the Animal Liberation Front in the 1980s.

The payment to 22-year-old former animal rights activist Jacqui is part of an agreement for her to drop her legal action alleging assault, negligence, deceit and misconduct by senior officers.

In 1985 she gave birth to their child but when the boy was two years old, Bob vanished.

BBC

Payout: The Met have paid 'Jacqui' £425,000 after she fathered Bob Lambert's child

Jacqui only discovered her son’s father was an undercover policeman in 2012 after he had been outed by other campaigners.

Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt released a lengthy statement condemning the behaviour of the officers.

He said: "Thanks in large part to the courage and tenacity of these women in bringing these matters to light it has become apparent that some officers, acting undercover whilst seeking to infiltrate protest groups, entered into long-term intimate sexual relationships with women which were abusive, deceitful, manipulative and wrong.

"I acknowledge that these relationships were a violation of the women's human rights, an abuse of police power and caused significant trauma.

"I unreservedly apologise on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service.

"I am aware that money alone cannot compensate the loss of time, their hurt or the feelings of abuse caused by these relationships."