Baroness Doreen Lawrence, an interested party in a Judicial Claim brought by former Undercover Officer and Manager HN86

Baroness Lawrence became an interested party in these judicial review proceedings following her application on 27 November 2025.

The claim arises from a challenge to the Chair’s decision to issue a notice under section 21(1)(a) of the Inquiries Act 2005, compelling HN86—a former undercover police officer and manager within the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) in the early 1990s—to return to the UK and give oral evidence before the Undercover Policing Inquiry. The notice requires HN86 to attend in person at 9:30am on 13, 14, and 15 July 2026 at the International Dispute Resolution Centre, 1 Paternoster Square, London.

HN86 is a central witness in the Inquiry. Whistleblower Peter Francis, also a former undercover officer, has alleged that HN86 instructed him to surveil both the Lawrence family and Baroness Lawrence herself.

The judicial review is brought on two main grounds:

1. Illegality: It is argued that section 21 of the Inquiries Act 2005 does not empower statutory inquiries to issue notices to individuals outside UK jurisdiction; and

2. Procedural unfairness / breach of legitimate expectation: The process is said to have been unfair or contrary to procedural expectations. Baroness Lawrence previously gave oral evidence to the Inquiry in November 2025. When asked what she wished to say to officers refusing to give evidence, including HN86, she stated:

“If there were.. I understand when they have their statement they were well enough to give how many page statements? And the mere fact that they can hide behind—I am not saying if you are ill, you are ill, but the mere fact that if you could have gone through so much during your time as undercover and spying on us, the least you can do—and have that respect, is to come and give evidence in public. And stop hiding behind whatever it is that you feel that you need to hide behind.

 

Because during their time of—I don’t know, spying, investigating, whatever they were doing, they were happy to do that. And now that the mere fact that they have been sort of called to give—as a witness, “oh, I am not well enough”. It shows that there are times that part of the authority takes—takes what happens to them as something that they must be protected.

 

But I am here, sitting in a room—I don’t have that where I can just say, “I don’t want to give evidence”. It’s something that I am obliged to do and I think if I was to turn around and say, “I don’t want to be here”, I am sure there would be eyebrows raised saying I have been very critical but yet I am not here in person to give evidence.”

On 20 March 2026, Baroness Lawrence submitted a 27-page witness statement in which she emphasised:

“I believe it is essential for the court to recognise the significance of this witness. I make this statement to oppose the grant of permission for judicial review and contest the claim in its entirety.”

The hearing is scheduled at the Royal Courts of Justice on 13 and 14 May 2026.

For further information, contact Daniel Cooper, Partner, at danielc@ikpsolicitors.com and Aya Alshekhili, Solicitor, at ayaa@ikpsolicitors.com