At least 25 undercover police officers who infiltrated political groups formed sexual relationships with members of the public without disclosing their true identity to them, the Guardian can disclose.
The total shows how women were deceived on a systemic basis over more than three decades. It equates to nearly a fifth of all the police spies who were sent to infiltrate political movements.
One woman, known as Jacqui, has said her life was “absolutely ruined” after she discovered by chance that the father of her son was an undercover officer, more than 20 years after his birth. The officer, Bob Lambert, abandoned them when the son was an infant, claiming falsely that he had to go on the run abroad to escape being arrested by police.
Other women had intimate relationships lasting up to six years with men who concealed the fact they were undercover officers who had been sent to spy on them and their friends.
I think the word you’re looking for is “raped.” Undercover police officers raped unsuspecting members of the public. Often repeatedly.
When literally everything that they used to gain consent was a lie, it’s a rape by any other name.
There is no statute of limitations in the UK for rape, based a quick search, so all these “spy cops” need to be unmasked and charged.
As scummy as what happened here is. I think describing it as rape is a slippery slope.
How were these women able to give any kind of informed consent?
would need to be further defined if informed consent can only happen if you know and can verify the personal details of your potential partner. I doubt that is the scope of it and courts would rule that you consent to the act, not necessarily to the identity of your partner beyond what is apparent to you. This is different to for example getting married to an individual intending to mislead you.
Rape by deception is legally recognized. If they would not have consented had they not been deceived, it is rape.