MI5 ordered police officers to spy on schoolchildren as young as 14 who were deemed to be involved in “subversive activities,” an inquiry has heard. 

A circular from the security service to chief constables from 1975 requesting that officers collect information about political activities in schools was disclosed by the Undercover Policing Inquiry today. 

The document asks police forces to collect information on pupils “14 or over” who are “active in subversive organisations,” as well as teaching staff “who are using their position for subversive purposes.”

The inquiry, which resumed today, heard previously how undercover officers serving in a secret Metropolitan Police unit had collected intelligence on the political beliefs of teenagers as well as keeping photos of them. 

They included members of School Kids Against the Nazis (Skan), a group that campaigned against the rise of the fascist National Front in the 1970s. 

In his opening statement, counsel to the inquiry David Barr suggested that the request could explain why undercover police officers had spied on the political activities of schoolchildren and the extensive reporting on Skan. 

Mr Barr said MI5 recognised the “sensitivity” of the request, as it urged officers not to make enquiries in schools on its behalf. 

“But we would welcome any help you could give us on the basis of information which comes your way from the local papers or from members of the public, by recourse to other sources outside schools which you can use without risk of embarrassment,” the circular said. 

The request had been approved by then-director general of MI5 Sir Michael Hanley and Home Office permanent under-secretary Sir Arthur Peterson. 
 
The inquiry, headed by retired judge Sir John Mitting, has been given the task of investigating the industrial-scale police infiltration of over 1,000 political groups across more than 40 years.

It was triggered by a string of disturbing revelations, including that police spies had deceived women activists into sexual relationships, even fathering children while undercover, and had spied on the family justice campaign of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence. 

The current phase of the probe, which will take place over the next two weeks, focuses on evidence from managers serving in the special demonstration squad (SDS) between 1968 and 1983. 

Previous evidence to the inquiry has shown that the SDS worked closely with MI5 and often under its direction, with all police reports copied to the service.

In what could be viewed as an attempt at shifting the blame further up the chain, the Met urged the inquiry on today to seek evidence from the Security Services when investigating the justification for the SDS.

“This can only be done fairly by asking former officers of Metropolitan Police Special Branch C Squad, A8 Uniform Branch and the Security Service, directly to explain the justification for seeking intelligence on those groups and individuals,” Met lawyer Peter Skelton told the probe.

Today the inquiry also revealed what went on behind closed doors at secret hearings last year, in which five “fully anonymous” officers gave evidence in private, revealing further evidence of sexual relationships between officers and activists. 

One officer, referred to as HN302, said he had slept with a female activist during his deployment, admitting it was unlikely she would have had sex with him had she known he was a police officer.

Mr Barr said NH302 had thought that having sex with her might have advanced his cover but in the end did not. 

This is thought to be the first instance an undercover officer has admitted to having sex with an activist in order to bolster his cover. 

Women deceived into sexual relationships by spycops have long argued that this was a deliberate tactic used by undercover officers to gain trust among activists. 

At the weekend, campaigners attending the Undercover Policing: Trade Unions and Social Activism conference criticised the “glacial progress” of the inquiry, which is still in its early phases despite being launched seven years ago. 

The conference, held at union Unite’s HQ in London, was addressed by former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and heard from trade union activists and racial justice campaigners who were targeted by police spies.

Speaking ahead of the new round of hearings, Kate Wilson, who was deceived into a relationship by notorious spycop Mark Kennedy said: “The problems start at the top, and we should therefore be paying very close attention to what the managers have to say.”