Angelina Nicolaou and Natalie Csengeri are Junior Counsel for the Co-Operating Group of Non-Police, Non-State Core Participants (‘NPSCPs’), led by Kirsten Heaven of Doughty Street Chambers and instructed by Lydia Dagostino of Kellys Solicitors.

Tranche 3 examines the final years of the Special Demonstration Squad (‘SDS’), from 1993 until 2007. In Tranche 3 (Phase 1), the Inquiry will hear oral evidence from witnesses including the former SDS undercover officers HN15 Mark Jenner (‘Mark Cassidy’), HN16 James Thomson (‘James Straven’ aka ‘Kevin Crossland’) and HN43 Peter Francis (‘Peter Daley’ aka ‘Peter Black’).

The NPSCPs written Opening Statement highlights that despite significant changes introduced to the legal and regulatory regime governing the exercise of state power (including the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000), these changes did little to curb the unlawful and immoral activities of the SDS. The Opening covers a number of areas to be explored in the forthcoming hearings, including reporting on political and social and family justice campaigns, community organisations and groups campaigning for police accountability as well as the use of deceitful sexual relationships, reporting on trade unions and blacklisting.

The written Opening Statement on behalf of the NPSCPs can be found here. Oral Opening Submissions on behalf of the NPSCPs were also delivered to the Inquiry’s Chair, Sir John Mitting, on 15 October 2025, and can be found here.