HN24

HN24 is the cipher given to a former Special Demonstration Squad manager, where he was a cover office in the 2000s. His name will not be restricted for the purposes of the Inquiry.Kate Wilkinson, 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 names of officers of the Special Operations Squad and the Special Demonstration Squad, Undercover Public Inquiry, 13 September 2018.
For the N cipher system see N officers page.
==As an SDS officer==
According to John Mitting, Chair of the Undercover Policing Inquiry:
:: Prior to joining the [SDS] in 2001, HN24 handled and distributed intelligence gathered by deployed undercover officers at the time of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry. After joining, he served as a cover officer for deployed undercovers, including HN104 (Carlo Neri).
N81 stated to Op. Herne: 'I was informed, at the height of the Macpherson Inquiry, that my reporting was going straight to Sir Paul Condon’s desk each morning via N24, and N127 (SDS Sgt) passed on to me from N24 congratulations from the Commissioner for your excellent reporting...' (Ellison, p. 232).Mark Ellison, Possible corruption and the role of undercover policing in the Stephen Lawrence case, Stephen Lawrence Independent Review, Vol. 1, Gov.UK, March 2014
Another document indicates they were a Detective Sergeant in the SDS at some point in the period 2004-2008.Adrian Baxter, N30 - Risk Assessment (gisted), Metropolitan Police Service, 28 August 2018 (accessed 2 October 2018, via ucpi.org.uk).
==In the Undercover Policing Inquiry==
* 30 July 2018: real name to be published as application not pursued; an associated Explanatory Note stated:Kate Wilkinson, 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 Special Operations Squad and the Special Demonstration Squad - Update as at 30 July 2018, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 30 July 2018.
:: A response on behalf from the applicant to the Chairman's Minded To decision (published on 26/4/18) to refuse to restrict realm name is due by 7/5/18. In fact officer did not pursue application so Minded to note stands as final ruling that real name will not be restricted.
* Apr 2018: Mitting said he was minded to refuse the application to restrict release of HN24's real name, writing:Sir John Mitting, In the matter of section 19(3) of the Inquiries Act 2005 Applications for restriction orders in respect of the real and cover names of officers of the Special Operations Squad and the Special Demonstrations Squad Directions following publication of 'Minded to' note 8, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 26 April 2018.Sir John Mitting, In the matter of section 19(3) of the Inquiries Act 2005 Applications for restriction orders in respect of the real and cover names of officers of the Special Operations Squad and the Special Demonstrations Squad - 'Minded to' note 8, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 26 April 2018. 
:: He has valuable evidence to give about both issues [see above]. No risk to his safety would arise from giving such evidence in his own name and the impact on his right to respect for private and family life would likely to be confined to unwelcome media attention. The public interest in him giving this evidence in his own name and in public substantially outweighs any interference in the right of HN24 to respect for his private and family life under Article 8... Part of the evidence of HN24, about his discharge of his duties as a cover officer for other deployed undercover officers will have to be given in closed session, for their protection.
* Apr 2018: Mitting also orders that HN24 should provide notification if they wish their application for anonymity to be heard in closed hearing by 7 May 2018, with skeleton argument setting out objections to his Minded To to reject application to restrict real name to be provided by 11 May 2018. 
* Nov 2017: extension sought to be deal with in a future tranche.Counsel to the Inquiry's Explanatory note to accompany the 'Minded-To' Note (2) in respect for restrictions over the real and cover names of officers of the Special Operations Squad and the Special Demonstration Squad, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 14 November 2017.
==Notes==