THE Met spied on 17 justice campaigns for murder victims and those who died following police contact over 35 years, it was revealed yesterday.

Among those who were monitored are the family of Jean Charles de Menezes, who was shot dead by police in July 2005.

The disclosure was made by Derbyshire Chief Constable Mick Creedon, who is leading Operation Herne examining the conduct of undercover officers from Scotland Yard’s Special Demonstration Squad (SDS).

Mr Creedon said: “Operation Herne has identified emerging evidence that in addition to the Stephen Lawrence Campaign, a number of other justice campaigns have been mentioned within SDS records. Seventeen justice campaigns have been identified so far.

“These range between 1970 and 2005, and are as a result of deaths in police custody, following police contact and the victims of murders.”

A spokeswoman for the de Menezes Family Campaign said: “It is shameful that the Metropolitan Police spied on the legitimate campaign activities of a grieving family who were simply trying to get the answers they deserved after their loved one was killed by police officers.

“It begs the question — what exactly were the police spying for? We can only assume they were gathering information in an attempt to discredit the family’s campaign for justice in order to deflect accountability for their own failings.”

References linked to the shooting of Cherry Groce, which sparked the Brixton riots, and Ricky Reel, who died in mysterious circumstances in 1997, were also found.

It is understood that there are several families who have not yet been contacted and that more may emerge as time goes on.

While the report found no evidence that covert operations targeted grieving families or justice campaigns, the fact that information which had no relevance in preventing crime was kept was heavily criticised.

The report said: “It is quite clear that maintaining the secrecy of the unit and protecting the identity of the officers was of paramount importance to all involved — and in being so focused on this aspect the management of the SDS, of the Metropolitan Police Special Branch and ultimately the Metropolitan Police Executive Leadership of the day collectively failed.”

Green Party London Assembly member Jenny Jones added: “The Met Police should not be spending their time and our money spying on the relatives of the people who are campaigning for justice from the Met Police. 

“We pay them to protect the public, not to cover their own crimes and misdemeanours. The Herne report has said that it was not a policy or tactic of the Met to systematically intrude on the lives of people involved with campaigns for justice, such as the Lawrence family or the families of Jean Charles de Menezes and Ricky Reel. However, to some extent, it was happening and must stop.”