Lawyers from the Public Interest Law Centre attended the launch of SCOPS yesterday.
The day was a great success with speakers from a whole range of different 
traditions uniting together to launch a united campaign for a public inquiry into undercover political policing in Scotland.
It is becoming increasingly clear that many undercover officers – part of the SDS and the NPOIU – were involved in spying on Scottish social justice campaigners. Those campaigners encompass the whole spectrum of progressive activists from trade unionists, socialists, environmental campaigners, and community activists.
The Conference kicked off with speeches from Neil Findlay MSP who has been in the forefront of raising the cases of blacklisted workers. Eveline Lubbers from the Undercover Research Group spoke in broad terms about the work she does in researching and uncovering police spies. Finally Tilly Gifford a social justice campaigner – explained her reasons for bringing a judicial review against the UK and Scottish governments for failing to organise a public inquiry into undercover political policing north of the border. ‘Andrea’ from Police Spies Out of Lives spoke powerfully about how she was deceived into a long term relationship with an undercover police officer who used her to legitimise his spying on socialist activists she campaigned with.
The afternoon session heard from a range of speakers including Pat Egan from the National Union of Mineworkers. He spoke about the recent grant of a judicial inquiry into policing during the miners strike 1984-85. Dave Semple from the PCS (civil service union) spoke about interference by the security services in his union in the 1980’s, and the ongoing battles against the bosses today. Paul McGloughlin spoke from the Miscarriages of Justice Orgnisation (MOJO) about their support from the public inquiry being extended to Scotland.
Finally, the conference agreed to launch the Scottish Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance (SCOPS) with a first meeting in mid-July. If you are interested in getting involved contact copsscotland@gmail.com
Read an additional report featured in the online journal Bella Caledonia from freelance journalist Harvey Duke – here
