The dark underbelly of British undercover policing has been exposed once again, with the Spycops inquiry hearing explosive testimony that a police officer not only infiltrated anti-fascist groups but actively attempted to incite them to commit arson.

Carlo Soracchi, who operated under the alias "Carlo Neri" between 2000 and 2006, is accused of trying to lure activists into firebombing a charity shop suspected of being a front for the far-right. The allegations, made by three activists known as "Joe Batty" and others, paint a picture of a state agent turned agent provocateur. "He didn't just watch; he pushed," one activist testified. The inquiry heard that Soracchi suggested the attack on two separate occasions, proposals that were immediately rejected by the group members who had no intention of engaging in terrorism.

This revelation is the latest in a string of scandals emerging from the inquiry into the conduct of 139 undercover officers who spied on over 1,000 political groups since 1968. Soracchi, who also formed deceptive intimate relationships with three women during his deployment, denies the arson claims, but his credibility is in tatters.

Manufacturing Crime?

The testimony raises disturbing questions about the mandate of these undercover units. Were they gathering intelligence, or were they manufacturing threats to justify their own existence?

• The "Got Nothing" Defense: Activists claim Soracchi was desperate because he had "got nothing" on the group, which was largely peaceful. Inciting a crime would have provided the "result" his handlers needed.
• Deception and Abuse: Beyond the incitement, Soracchi’s manipulation of women into long-term relationships under a false identity remains one of the most egregious abuses of state power.
• The Pattern: This is not an isolated incident. The inquiry has heard numerous accounts of officers crossing the line from observation to participation and instigation.

Legal experts argue that if proven, Soracchi’s actions could constitute entrapment and misconduct in public office. "You cannot have the police creating the very criminals they are supposed to catch," noted a lawyer for the victims.

The Inquiry Continues

As Soracchi prepares to face questioning next month, the spotlight is firmly on the Metropolitan Police. The inquiry is peeling back the layers of a secret state apparatus that operated with impunity for decades. For the activists who were targeted, the betrayal is double-edged: they were spied on by the state, and then almost framed by it.

The "Spycops" scandal serves as a chilling reminder of what happens when policing loses its moral compass. In the name of protecting the public, officers like Soracchi became the very danger they were sworn to fight.