Protesters demand Holloway university sack former policy spy
Robert Lambert - Credit: Archant
A former police spy who used a dead child’s identity and fathered a child whilst undercover should be sacked from his university job, say protesters.
About 30 people gathered outside London Metropolitan University, in Holloway Road, on Friday, to demand Bob Lambert be removed from his post as criminology lecturer.
Mr Lambert worked for Scotland Yard’s special branch during the 1980s when he infiltrated the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and Greenpeace.
He is alleged to have had sexual relationships with some of the activists and has admitted fathering a child with one – something campaign group Islington Against Spies (IAS) say him unsuitable to work at the Holloway university.
A spokesman for IAS said: “Having sexual relationships with campaigners is the most abusive breach of trust imaginable.
“These undercover police units are unaccountable and undemocratic.
“The establishment and the police won’t make significant changes unless we force them to by making a fuss. “Let’s start by pushing London Met to sack Bob Lambert.”
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Mr Lambert, who also works on counter terrorism research at London Met, apologised for some of his actions on a Channel 4 documentary last year but said that harvesting dead children’s identities was “routine practice” in the undercover policing field.
A spokesman for the university said: “Bob Lambert is a valued member of our criminology department, where he is popular with both students and staff.
“While we recognise the mistakes Bob made in his police career, for which he has apologised and displayed deep regret, we have absolute faith in him as a lecturer and member of our community.”
“During a 31 year policing career, Bob made a significant contribution to tackling terrorism, political violence and hate crimes in London which, along with his strong academic record, makes him a valuable asset to criminology teaching at London Met.”
