Undercover cop 'used fake ID to trick woman into 19-year relationship'
Undercover police officer ‘used his fake ID to trick woman into 19-year relationship and ‘have his child as senior officers bullied her into keeping quiet’
- Avon and Somerset Police apologised for the near two-decade long deception
An undercover police officer used his fake identity to begin a 19-year relationship with a woman, who went on to have his child.
The Avon and Somerset Constabulary specialist was so keen to maintain his cover he even put his false name onto the birth certificate of the young lad.
They got engaged in 2019 and the deception could have continued forever, if not for the police who had discovered what was going on back in 2013.
For reasons it has not disclosed, the force then took seven years to break the news to the woman, who is known as Mary.
Officers went to the family home and told her in August 2020, relocating her to a hotel for a full briefing of the reality of her fiance.
Her relatives then claim they were put under pressure not to speak out about what happened – warning it could spark civil unrest or even criminal reprisals.
The force then took seven years to break the news to the woman, who is known as Mary. Stock picture.
Mary’s sister told the Guardian: ‘They’re supposed to serve and protect. I don’t believe they will protect you, I believe they will protect themselves. They’re using us and making us cover for them for their failings. They are trying to silence us.
‘I remember my girls being babies and him holding them,
‘There was always a secret side. Back then I didn’t see it as a secret side, I just saw him as very private.’
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating senior officers at Avon and Somerset police.
They knew about the undercover officer’s relationship back in 2013, but appeared to do nothing to alert her.
The truth about her partner has left her suicidal and ‘completely broken the family
Both the officer and Mary are black and he was described as a ‘charismatic but quiet’ man by stunned relatives.
Avon and Somerset Police, whose headquarters is seen here, said sorry for the deception
They said his hobbies were weightlifting and martial arts as well as an interest in cars.
A statement from Avon and Somerset Police said: ‘While working in an undercover role, a former officer engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a member of the public using their pseudonym.
‘The member of the public has no connection with policing and until recently they were entirely unaware of their links to an undercover police officer. They played no role in, and were not connected to, the officer’s operational deployment. This deployment is historic and happened many years ago. We fully recognise for those involved it has been deeply upsetting over a number of years, and remains so today.
‘We are sorry. We recognise and understand the devastating and appalling impact this has had on all those affected, and we have taken and continue to take our duty of care to them extremely seriously. Our commitment to support them is unwavering and our genuine and sincere intention is to ensure they’re getting the support they need both now and in the future.
‘In 2016 we recognised accountability for decisions should be reviewed independently and so we voluntarily referred these matters to the Undercover Policing Inquiry. We also referred ourselves to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) and these investigations are still ongoing. We are fully co-operating with both these inquiries and will implement all recommendations made.
‘We expect all our officers and staff to act with the highest levels of integrity and professionalism at all times. We will not tolerate any misuse or abuse of position and there are serious consequences for anyone who engages in this behaviour.
‘Our absolute priority is to keep the public safe as well as our officers and staff. We are unable to go into further details to protect the integrity of the ongoing independent inquiries and because we cannot risk putting information into the public arena which could pose a real and substantial threat of serious harm to others.’
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