UK police starts investigation against Scotland Yard's alleged use of Indian hackers

Allegations were made against Scotland Yard that it used hackers in India in order to illegally spy on the email accounts of British journalists, environmental campaigners and activists and now UK police watchdog has begun an investigation into the allegations.

The UK’s Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC)?appealed to a whistleblower, believed to be a serving or retired Metropolitan Police officer who had sent an anonymous tip-off about the hack earlier this year, to get in touch.

A whistleblower, believed to be a serving or retired Metropolitan Police officer who had sent an anonymous tip-off about the hack earlier in 2017, was approached by the UK’s Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

“These are clearly serious allegations and the IPCC is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the matters raised. This will be a complex investigation given the potential involvement of foreign participants,” said IPCC deputy chairman Sarah Green.

“We would like to hear from the officer who brought these allegations to light or any other officers or police staff who may be able to provide information of use to the IPCC investigation,” she added.

An anonymous letter was received by IPCC which alleged that covert officers from the Met’s National Domestic Extremism and Disorder Intelligence Unit (NDEDIU) had contacted Indian police officers for support to enlist the services of hackers.

The letter alleges the hackers accessed the email accounts of members of political and environmental pressure groups and journalists.

The Met Police said: “The IPCC made the Metropolitan Police Service aware of anonymous allegations concerning the access of personal data and requested the matter referred to them by the MPS. This has been done.”

“The MPS is aware that the IPCC is carrying out an independent investigation.”

“As this investigation is now in the public domain the MPS can confirm that all possible steps are being taken to ensure all relevant material and associated computer systems are preserved to assist the IPCC investigation.”

The IPCC is also carrying out two related and ongoing investigations into allegations that paperwork relating to undercover policing kept by the NDEDIU was shredded in May 2014. 

(With PTI inputs)