WHO ARE WE?
Police Spies Out of Lives (PSOOL) is a campaigning support group working to end sexual and psychological abuse perpetrated by undercover police officers. We are women deceived into intimate, sexual relationships with undercover police officers, many of whom were infiltrating environmental and social justice campaign groups. We support the legal actions, and participation in the Public Inquiry into Undercover Policing, by women who have been victims of abusive undercover policing. We work to expose the unethical, immoral and misogynistic practices of undercover policing, and the institutional prejudices which have led to the abuse.
Please donate to support us, and find out how to get involved.
OUR CALL TO ACTION
The new ITV documentary ‘The Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed’ first screened on Thursday March 6th 2025 at 9pm on ITV and ITVX reveals institutionalised sexism and misogyny in the Metropolitan police and highlights the psychological impact on women campaigners who were deceived into intimate, sexual relationships with on-duty undercover police officers.
SIGN OUR PETITION – COMING SOON
Prohibit police officers from having sexual relationships while undercover
1. Explicitly prohibit police officers from having sexual relationships while undercover;
2. Ensure full and early disclosure is made to victims and that the Undercover Policing Public Inquiry does not rush their evidence;
3. Remove commendations & honours from UCOs who violated women’s human rights.
At least 60 women are known to have been deceived into sexual relationships by undercover policemen. The ITV documentary ‘The Undercover Police Scandal’ revealed the psychological harm to women deceived in this way and the institutionalised sexism that allowed this to happen. This state-funded abuse must never happen again. It must be made illegal for police officers to engage in sexual relationships while undercover. UCOs who violated women should not be commended or hold public honours.
EXPLAINING THE ISSUE
Despite this unprecedented apology given to the first eight women who brought a case against the police for these abusive deployments, the police continue to be obstructive and secretive in response to many new cases which have since emerged. Combined with recent appalling and disturbing events showing sexual violence, systemic misogyny and sexism within the Metropolitan Police Service and other constabularies, this apology now rings hollow.
