Met Police Apologise Over Undercover Cop’s Role in Mink Farm Raid
The Met Police have made a formal apology to Hampshire Constabulary over a controversial undercover operation from the 1990s. The scandal involves an undercover officer, known as ‘Christine Green’, who infiltrated animal rights groups and was allowed to take part in a daring raid that freed hundreds of mink from a Hampshire fur farm.
Undercover Cop ‘Christine Green’ Went Too Far
Christine Green worked undercover with the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) from 1994 to 1999, posing as an animal rights activist. She infiltrated the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and London Animal Action. Shocking new evidence shows she was authorised — possibly by a senior detective chief superintendent — to help break the law during a raid on Crow Hill Farm in Ringwood, Hampshire, on 8 August 1998.
During this raid, ALF activists released a large number of mink. Rather than sharing the full extent of Christine Green’s involvement, the SDS kept crucial information from Hampshire police, hampering their criminal investigation at the time.
Cover-Up and Delayed Disclosure
The Met only revealed Christine Green’s true role to Hampshire Constabulary in 2014, years after the fact. Concerns that revealing her identity could compromise ongoing operations meant details were kept under tight wraps. However, the Met insists there is no evidence she took part in a second mink release two weeks later.
Christine Green quit the Met in August 2000.
Public Inquiry Demands Full Disclosure
The Public Inquiry into Undercover Policing has now been told about the incident. After Public Inquiry Chairman Sir John Mitting ordered the release of her cover name, the Met agreed it must come clean in the interest of public transparency.
“The Met has apologised to Hampshire police for how these decisions affected their ability to bring offenders to justice,” said Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball, who oversees professionalism at the Met.
“The decision to allow an undercover officer to break the law would never happen in today’s force. The SDS believed allowing this criminal act would prevent more serious crime later, but the scale of the mink release shocked everyone.”
“Even after realising the damage, the SDS did not tell Hampshire police about Christine Green’s role. We understand this will cause concern to those affected.”
“Undercover policing today is tightly supervised to protect public trust and act ethically.”
Investigation and Legal Outcome
- In 2014, the case was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
- Operation Herne conducted a local investigation under Derbyshire Chief Constable Mick Creedon.
- A file was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in December 2015.
- By February 2016, the CPS ruled there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.
- Operation Herne’s investigation is still ongoing.
- The Public Inquiry published Christine Green’s cover name on 20 February 2024, but her real name remains restricted.
This explosive revelation shines a harsh light on undercover policing practices of the past and raises questions about how far police will go undercover — and at what cost.
