EN48

EN48 is the cipher given to a former undercover officer of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit who was deployed in the 2000s against unknown targets. Sir John Mitting, chair of the Undercover Policing Inquiry, has ruled that the Inquiry will restrict the officers real and cover name in the Inquiry.Sir John Mitting, Applications for restriction orders in respect of the real and cover names of officers of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and its predecessor/successor units 'Minded to' Note, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 2 May 2018.Sir John Mitting, Applications for restriction orders in respect of the real and cover names of officers of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and its predecessor/successor units Ruling 1 and 'Minded to' 2, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 30 October 2018.
* For the EN cipher system see EN officers page.
==As a police officer==
Before and after their secondment as an NPOIU undercover work, EN48 had done undercover work in the serious and organised crime area,EN48 Gisted Risk Assessment, original assessment made 14 December 2017 by Richard Clarke; gisted version released by Undercover Policing Inquiry 9 July 2018. including drugs gangs, firearms distribution and extortionGisted witness statement of EN48, undated; gisted version released by Undercover Policing Inquiry 9 July 2018. including some deployments which put the officer and colleagues at 'substantial and immediate risks'.
It was also noted that:
:: EN48 was appointed as a Level 1 source handling officer for higher level sources. High profile informants who provided intelligence on drugs offences, terrorism, firearms and kidnapping were handled by EN48. If EN48 was seen with any of those informants there is a risk to them if his/her identity is revealed.
==In the Undercover Policing Inquiry==
* 18 July 2017: application to restrict real and cover names made.Gisted summary of Grounds for application of EN48, application made 18 July 2017, gisted version released by Undercover Policing Inquiry 9 July 2018.
* 2 May 2018: Mitting minded to restrict real and cover names,Steven Gray, Counsel to the Inquiry's Explanatory Note to accompany the Chairman's 'Minded To' Note 12 in respect of applications for restrictions over the real and cover name of officers of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and its predecessor/successor units, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 2 May 2018. writing:Sir John Mitting, Applications for restriction orders in respect of the real and cover names of officers of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and its predecessor/successor units 'Minded to' Note, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 2 May 2018.
:: EN48 was deployed by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit in the 2000s. Members and associates of the target groups posed and pose a real risk to the safety of EN48. Article 3 of the European Convention is not engaged, because the risk is contingent not immediate, but the right to respect for the private and family life of EN48 under Article 8 would be infringed in that and other respects. Although publication of the cover name might prompt evidence from others who encountered EN48, it would amount to a disproportionate interference with that right and would not be justified under Article 8(2).
* 9 July 2018: Inquiry releases gisted versions of the restriction order application, risk assessment and witness statement for the officerNPOIU 'Minded to' officer's list of documents - published 09 July 2018, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 9 July 2018. See also associated press note: Publication of documents relating to anonymity applications: National Public Order Intelligence Unit & Special Demonstration Squad, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 9 July 2018. and Mitting directed that any submissions in response to these applications were to be made by 20 July 2018.Sir John Mitting, Applications for restriction orders in respect of real and cover names of officers of the Special Operations Squad and the Special Demonstration Squad and of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit - Directions, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 3 July 2018.
* 30 October 2018: Mitting rules to restrict both real and cover names, writing:Sir John Mitting, Applications for restriction orders in respect of the real and cover names of officers of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and its predecessor/successor units Ruling 1 and 'Minded to' 2, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 30 October 2018.
:: I am satisfied that the risk assessor's assessment of the risks posed to EN48 as a result of the [NPOIU] deployment is balanced and fair. He and I took into account the varying opinions expressed by other officers about similar risks. The difference between EN48's evaluation of the risks posed by the post [NPOIU] deployments and that of the risk assessor is primarily due to the absence of accessible internal records about the deployments. Hence, at least in part, his somewhat more cautious view. Notwithstanding that, he still assesses the threat and risk that it may materialise as medium and the degree of harm which might be inflicted, if it does materialise, as high. As the open 'Minded to' note states, the risk which I had primarily in mind was that created by the [NPOIU] deployment.
==Notes==