Here is a story from the LA times about the compromise of undercover police officers because their photographs were accidently leaked to the public. It is really difficult to see how this can happen unless there was total incompetence on someone’s part combined with a failure on behalf of the agency to have adequate systems in place to guard against such incompetence.
Undercover Training course - Allegations of things going badly wrong
The use of undercover operations in counter terrorism investigations
A discussion a recent Background Briefing podcast from the ABC. It discusses an undercover investigation into terrorist activities in Melbourne, Australia. The program is interesting from many perspectives. It tells the tale of a number of young Australian men who were radicalised and the use of an undercover operation to investigate the activity of those involved. It raises legal, ethical and operational matters and is useful in leading discussions on the topics raised. Listen with an open mind.
Undercover operations - Records and accountability and potential corruption
“Cops bought booze, lap dances during undercover strip club probe…” makes for an interesting headline in the New York Post but the whole story raises a lot of questions for the police department involved. More importantly it creates a learning opportunity for other law enforcement agencies when it comes to accountability and record keeping in undercover operations.
