Ex-officer accused of racism takes legal action to avoid facing spycops inquiry

Whistleblower testified that man known as HN86 gathered information to undermine Lawrence family campaign

A former senior police officer at the centre of the controversy over the surveillance of the campaign to expose the killers of teenager Stephen Lawrence is taking legal action that would prevent him being questioned at a public inquiry.

The officer, who is facing allegations that he called black campaigners monkeys", is intending to resist an order by the undercover policing inquiry that would require him to give oral evidence.