Operation Countryman

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Operation Countryman was an investigation into

supergrass who claimed that some officers, including members of the elite Flying Squad which dealt with commercial armed robberies, were receiving bribes from criminals in return for warnings of imminent police raids or arrests, the fabrication of evidence against innocent men, and having charges against guilty criminals dropped.[1][3][4][5]

The investigation initially targeted officers within the

Hampshire and Dorset, the investigating team came to be disparagingly known by London officers as "The Sweedy."[6][7] The investigation was ordered by the then Home Secretary Merlyn Rees, and began by examining police activity around three major crimes:[3][4][8]

As the investigation proceeded, it began to emerge that the corruption was not limited to "a few bad apples" within the forces but was "historically and currently endemic" and "widespread throughout the hierarchical command rather than confined to those below the rank of sergeant."[6]

In August 1978, officers began investigations into corruption within the London police services. The unit was initially accommodated at Camberwell police station in south London, but following attempts to interfere with the team's documents, records and evidence, it was moved to Godalming Police Station in Surrey, outside the Metropolitan Police District.

Operation Countryman faced major obstruction from both senior management and the lower ranks of the police. Much of the investigation's evidence was obtained by police officers going undercover as police officers.

Asst. Chief Constable Leonard Burt told his investigation team not to pass any evidence it obtained against Metropolitan Police officers to the

Surrey Constabulary. He ordered that all evidence already compiled during the investigation be passed to the Metropolitan Police to be dealt with by their own internal investigation unit.[10][page needed
]

After six years, and at a cost of over £4 million, Operation Countryman presented its findings to the Home Office and the Commissioner. Parts of the report were leaked to the public.

Dale Campbell-Savours said that "over 250 police officers were forced to resign and many faced criminal charges after investigations revealed that police membership of particular Masonic lodges formed the nucleus of a criminal conspiracy."[11]

Questions asked in the

public interest immunity.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^
    Daily Telegraph
    . London. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  2. ISBN 9781845951269
    .
  3. ^ a b Tendler, Stewart (10 December 1979). "12 'super informers' aid search for corrupt policemen". The Times. No. 60496. London. p. 3.
  4. ^ a b "Inquiry on police must go on, Mr Rees says". The Times. No. 60522. London. 12 January 1980. p. 2.
  5. ^ "Metropolitan Police Service — History of the Metropolitan Police Service". Met.police.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  6. ^
    ISBN 9780415045728
    .
  7. ISBN 9780140523188
    .)
  8. ^ Tendler, Stewart (18 April 1980). "Eight arrested after Countryman raids". The Times. No. 60604. London. p. 2.
  9. ^ Tendler, Stewart (1 June 1978). "Police praise bravery of man shot dead in robbery". The Times. No. 60316. London. p. 2.
  10. ISBN 0-14-052318-9
    .
  11. ^ "Police Act 1964 (Amendment)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 28 June 1988. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Operation Countryman (1998)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Written-Answers. 26 March 1998. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
    "Operation Countryman (1998)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Written-Answers. 4 February 1998. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
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