EN38

EN38 is the cipher given to a former undercover officer of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit who was deployed in the 2000s into one group and report on others. Sir John Mitting, chair of the Undercover Policing Inquiry, has ruled that it 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==
Prior to being seconded to the NPOIU, EN38 was involved in two undercover operations targeting drug suppliers, giving evidence from behind a screen in their prosecutions.Gisted summary of grounds for application of EN38, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 7 July 2017 - gisted version released 9 July 2018.
On secondment to the NPOIU they were deployed for several years, infiltrating one group and reporting on others. The nature of this group is such that it is assessed EN38 would be at risk from them.Gisted risk assessment EN38, Undercover Policing Inquiry, prepared 18 January 2018 by Richard Clarke - gisted version released 9 July 2018.
Following his NPOIU deployment, he continued to do undercover work include drugs, firearms and other 'sensitive investigations'. A serving police officer as of 2018, they remain available for undercover deployment.Gisted witness statment of EN38, Undercover Policing Inquiry, 26 June 2017 - gisted version released 9 July 2018.
==In Undercover Policing Inquiry==
* 7 July 2017: submits application for restriction over real and cover names as at risk from people they targeted on various undercover operations, including those targeted while undercover for the NPOIU. Thet also claim that if their cover or real name is given out they will no longer be able to do undercover work and they would be forced to relocate their family due to risk of serious injury or death, and be forced into a witness relocation programme. There would also be risks to another undercover officers.
* 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.
:: EN38 is a serving police officer. EN38 was deployed into one group over several years by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and reported on others. Members and associates of the group posed and still pose a real risk to safety. Publication of the cover name of EN38 might lead to the identification of the real name, in which case the risks would materialise. I am not prepared to run those risks.... Further, the ability of EN38 to fulfil valuable current police duties might be impaired by publication. It is not in the public interest to run that risk.
* 9 July 2018: Inquiry releases gisted versions of the restriction order application, witness statement and risk assessment 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 Oct 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. in the ruling, Mitting stated:
:: If it is suggested that, because EN38 is still engaged in police work, so the undercover work performed for the National Public Order Intelligence Unit must be the subject of public scrutiny, I reject the suggestion.
==Notes==