Plan B Forum

Crucially, at this meeting, ‘Mark’ was friendly and made clear he had money and a car, meaning he could afford to transport protesters to a series of high-profile events being secretly planned. So, as they smoked cannabis and listened to music at the camp during the heatwave of August 2003, the group’s leaders agreed that the 33-year-old stranger — whom they nicknamed ‘Flash’ on account of the bundle of cash he always had in his wallet — could join them.

But ‘Flash’ stood no personal risk of arrest over any illegal activities.

Mark Stone was, in fact, Mark Kennedy, an undercover police officer who spent seven years at the heart of these secretive groups — relaying every detail of their activities to his superiors. Using a fake passport supplied by his police handlers, Kennedy travelled to more than 22 countries posing as a committed green ­anarchist, while drawing a salary of £50,000 from the Metropolitan Police. But the astonishing double life of PC Mark Kennedy was last night blown wide open after a high-profile trial collapsed ­following allegations that ‘Flash’ crossed the line — and acted as an agent provocateur.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z1AgXWHnLE

The biggest challenge faced by an undercover officer is whether they can break the law. Corbett recalls situations where gang bosses are hosting parties with lines of cocaine ready for guests.

In some cases officers talk their way out of it, claiming a pre-existing medical condition, such as heart palpitations. Others would align themselves with the criminals who stick to the hard drinking. Some officers, fearing for their own lives, take the drug.

"If you have taken the drug, you have got to come out [of the personality] as soon as possible and say on tape [hidden on your body] or to the handler what has happened and why it was a life-threatening situation. You have to maintain that line between the job and the real person."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12161108