Book Review: Deep Deception

“Groomed. Gaslighted. Ghosted. They thought they'd found their soulmate. They had no idea he was spying on them. These five motivated, independent women each thought they'd met their perfect partner - someone who shared their values, ambitions and goals. But after a while, in some cases years later, the men started to behave strangely. They disappeared for weeks at a time, saying they needed to go away to clear their heads. Small details about their lives didn't quite fit. Then they vanished, leaving a note saying that the relationship was over. These men were undercover police officers, who had targeted the women for their links to activist groups. They took the identities of dead children and carried fake passports and driving licences. They were all married, some with children. They had been working from a set of guidelines and were all using the same manipulative techniques. This is the story of five women whose lives were stolen by state-sponsored spies, and who, one by one, uncovered the shocking truth.”

In 2011, eight women, with the support of lawyer Harriet Wistrich (author of Sister In Law), wrote a letter before action challenging the Metropolitan Police. They had each been groomed into sexual relationships by undercover police officers who overstepped the mark - by miles.

These officers became known as ‘Spycops’, and the establishment had previously closed in around them denying them of justice.

Wether or not you believe that police infiltration of campaigning/action groups is acceptable, these officers lied and deceived in manners way beyond acceptable, leaving their lives in tatters. It became a national scandal. State sanctioned sexual grooming.

The Pòlice confirmed the role of Mark Kennedy, but later confusingly said they could neither confirm not deny anyones involvement. What followed was endless legal wrangling, different courts, government involvement, appeals, human rights and common law claims, delays, obfuscation of facts, public enquiry into undercover policing…..

Although all eight women were eventually issued with an unprecedented apology, legal wrangling continues today.

Deep Deception is the stories of of all of them, with five of them (Alison, Belinda, Helen Steel, Lisa and Naomi) telling their stories in full. The title is accurate. The deception was deeper than anyone could imagine. Like most people who have been groomed, they showed empathy toward the people who have groomed them. They could never have suspected the truth.

Meet the Women

Belinda, 24, non activist, worked with the Electricty Generating Board as an accounts assistant. She still has no reason why she was targetted.

Helen Steel, 22, a gardener and social justice activist with London Greenpeace (later part of the McLibel case).

Alison, 29, English and media studies teacher, political activist with the Colin Roach Centre. The experience has left her traumatised. She feels exploited and believes there institutional sexism, but is fighting on determinedly - she is looking for answers to the many ‘why’s that the case has raised.

Lisa, 29, student, climbing and mountaineering enthusiast, environmental and social justice activist with groups including Earth First. Lisa is haunted. She is speaking out about her experiences, but can no longer face any activism. She has been ledft feeling cynical. Feels denied the possibility of having her own family.

Naomi, 32, gardener, social justice campaigner and environmental activist, also with Earth First. Lisa was absolutely gaslit and, like us, feels that there can have been no consent if she has no idea who she in a relationship with. Mark Stone was never real, and notes the Mirroring techniques used on the women, deliberately, and State sanctioned. (He also had a relationship with Lisa.)

(These names may be pseudonyms for privacy reasons.)

This does not include the ex-wives of the officers. Or the friends they left hurt and betrayed. Or the children born to these officers.

The Undercover Officers (Spies)

Bob Robinson, 29, real name Bob Lambert, 35

John Barker, 27, real name John Dimes, 32

Mark Cassidy, 27, real name Mark Jenner, 31

Mark Stone, 34, real name Mark Kennedy, 34

Their Shocking Stories

The book swings between the women, each telling their tale, visiting and returning to their stories in installments as the undercover officers disappear and reappear, causing their victims concern for the wellbeing of their missing partner, and taking away large chunks of their lives.

What is striking is the contrived trust that the officers generated and used. They were taught the techniques, given their cover stories.

They did little to earn their salaries, and the deception and damage cross - no, leapfrog - an ethical line.

These are principled women who often weren’t even the targets of their investigation. They were used by their ‘partners’ as covers.

Nothing of any import was discovered by the police. But the effects have been ongoing for all of them.

This affects all of us

This spying was mis-spent policing budgets, and it will cost more over time as the awful truth emerges. Whilst rape charge statistics are so low, that how so many officers could be deployed in this manner beggars belief. How they were allowed to create so much damage and trauma is almost inconceivable.

On no more than a suspicion, this could be any of us unless their fight for justice creates change.

That fight for justice is slow. All these years later, the fight for recognition continues, with even more people finding out, drip by drip, that they had been subjected to state sanctioned grooming techniques that crossed way over any acceptable lines and into human rights abuses.

Apologies have been hollow, the victims left confused, just bit parts in a cruel game. This does nothing to instil trust and faith in policing or the justice system. Like too many cases, including the Epstein case, the truth is already known. Reports and enquiries aceive little.

Social change cannot happen if people have no freedom to protest or seek change. Yet attempts as justice in this case have resulted in the effective removal of ‘rape by deception’ from the statute book. I therefore urge you to read or listen to these women’s testimonies. This tale, their truth, is far from told.

Alison, Belinda, Lisa, Naomi and Helen Steel. Deep Deception. The story of the spycop network, by the women who uncovered the shocking truth. Published by WF House Ltd. Narrated by the women themselves. Audible 2025.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deep-Deception-Network-Uncovered-Shocking/dp/B0BLTC7YQ3