Undercover Officer's Fabricated Gun Plot Exposed
The public inquiry into undercover policing has heard shocking allegations that officer James Thomson fabricated a gun plot involving animal rights activists during his covert deployment. Thomson's own managers eventually came to doubt the existence of the alleged conspiracy, with one describing it as "bollocks" in internal communications.
Deception and Relationship Abuse
James Thomson repeatedly deceived his police superiors and formed intimate relationships with two women under his false identity, the inquiry was told. He initially denied these relationships to investigators before eventually admitting the truth. The officer also confessed to disobeying direct orders from his managers, travelling abroad without authorisation, and removing pages from his passport to conceal his movements.
The spycops inquiry is examining covert surveillance operations that targeted thousands of predominantly leftwing activists between 1968 and at least 2010. Approximately 139 undercover officers assumed fake identities and infiltrated political groups, with deployments typically lasting around four years.
The French Gun Plot That Never Was
In 2001, Thomson claimed to have uncovered a revenge plot by animal rights activists following an incident where an anti-hunt campaigner was seriously injured by a pro-hunting driver. Thomson told his managers he was driving to France with an activist to collect a gun that would be used to attack political opponents.
At the time, police believed they had successfully thwarted this alleged conspiracy by staging the theft of Thomson's car in Marseille. The vehicle was later recovered with a firearm inside, seemingly validating Thomson's intelligence.
However, doubts soon emerged among Thomson's superiors. Another undercover officer suggested Thomson had actually been given the gun as a gift and stored it in a French deposit box. One manager recorded in an internal report that "there has not been a shred of independent corroboration for what allegedly took place", while another believed Thomson had invented the entire scenario to extend his undercover assignment.
The activist who accompanied Thomson to France, known only as L3, testified that the gun plot was an "absolute work of fiction" and described their week-long trip as a pleasant holiday involving wine, tourist attractions and picnics. He expressed horror that Thomson's false claims could have resulted in him spending years in prison.
Wider Pattern of Police Misconduct
David Barr, the inquiry's chief barrister, stated there were "very many troubling aspects" about Thomson's conduct during his infiltration of anti-hunt groups between 1997 and 2002. Barr noted that Thomson had told "many lies" to the inquiry, his police superiors, and the activists he was surveilling.
Thomson now faces allegations that in the latter part of his deployment, he gathered little valuable intelligence about the activists he was monitoring. He maintains that he did not fabricate the French gun plot, insisting that he and L3 did receive a firearm from contacts in Marseille.
The officer claimed his mental state was "far from normal" during his undercover work, though he continues to deny the most serious allegations against him. The inquiry continues to examine the conduct of police spies who operated for decades without proper oversight or accountability.
