The evidence was recovered nine years ago, the complaint was made six years ago and the report was completed two years ago. And finally this month the Metropolitan Police Service revealed, through gritted teeth, that Special Branch officers had supplied information to secret blacklisting organisations.
The Met didn’t actually release the report, which had been sent directly to the Commissioner on grounds of sensitivity, only its findings. It also said that no officers would be disciplined as a result and it rejected five other complaints. This was the minimum it could do - but it is important because it officially acknowledges how police and private companies were entangled in political surveillance.
