“Birmingham Four” Lawyers Hope Spycops Inquiry Will Help Reopen Case

The recent revelations from the undercover policing inquiry have cast a long shadow over the conviction of the so-called Birmingham Four. Arrested and charged in 2013 with plotting a terrorist attack, their case has always been shrouded in controversy. Allegations that police planted evidence to secure convictions have dogged the case ever since.

The prosecution’s case against Khobaib Hussain, Naweed Ali, Mohibur Rahman, and Tahir Aziz was built around a complex web of surveillance and infiltration. Undercover officer Vincent, working under the alias “Vincent,” set up a fake delivery firm, Hero Couriers, to ensnare the men. The investigation involved MI5 officers and an elaborate sting operation, with allegations that Vincent planted evidence in Ali’s vehicle.

The parallels between this case and another high-profile undercover policing scandal are striking. In 2018, it emerged that an undercover officer had fabricated a plot to frame an animal rights activist by planting a gun on them. The similarities between the two cases are too great to ignore: both involve undercover officers with access to firearms claiming to stumble upon plots by individuals they were spying on.

Lawyers for the Birmingham Four have long argued that Vincent planted evidence in their clients’ vehicle, and new evidence from the spycops inquiry has strengthened this claim. The inquiry’s findings demonstrate the ease with which undercover officers can fabricate evidence and the frequency of organizational cover-ups when allegations arise.

As the 10-year anniversary of their arrests approaches, Mariam Hussain’s words serve as a stark reminder of the devastating impact these convictions have had on the lives of the Birmingham Four and their families. “It hasn’t ended for us,” she says. “That pain is every day. We’re living a nightmare every day.”

The Criminal Cases Review Commission has yet to review the case, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that this delay is not simply bureaucratic in nature. A joint statement by Cage and other organizations calls for an immediate review of the case, citing new evidence from the spycops inquiry.

A 2018 full court of appeal examined the safety of these convictions in great detail and upheld the findings of the jury. However, with the latest revelations, it’s increasingly difficult to dismiss the allegations of planted evidence and police misconduct. The Birmingham Four’s case has become a test of the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

Judge Hon Mr Justice Openshaw once stated that “the conviction is safe.” But with each passing day, this statement rings increasingly hollow.