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00:00:01It's called Operation Pear Tree.
00:00:04Our brief was to embed an undercover officer within an organised crime group.
00:00:09Detective Sergeant John Corbett.
00:00:13I'm just trying to get to the truth.
00:00:15The top brass, well, they don't want me to succeed.
00:00:18But there's a bent copper for an organised crime, I'm sure of it.
00:00:24The man that broke in, I never saw his face.
00:00:26He said you'd know why he'd done it.
00:00:29I assaulted your gaffers right field, make sure I go down, there's no two ways of barry.
00:00:33One zero to four five, the order is Fahrenheit.
00:00:36Sir, we'll lose all of Corbett's intel.
00:00:38We know that Corbett is a cold-blooded killer.
00:00:43Give yourself up!
00:00:44You shoot me, and the truth never comes out.
00:00:49Lee Banks.
00:00:51Who's the only you?
00:00:52Superintendent Hastings.
00:00:53You're a rat, John.
00:00:55A rat.
00:00:57What if he did blow Corbett's cover?
00:00:59Doesn't bear thinking about.
00:01:02This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
00:01:04How much?
00:01:06100 grand.
00:01:07Haven't we underpaid, eh?
00:01:08I don't want the fiasco of Operation Pairtree, which was not of your making, and a disastrous coder to an
00:01:14otherwise distinguished career.
00:01:21The cabinet's up with all this stuff, come on.
00:01:24Never asked you how your exams went.
00:01:26Yeah, I got a date for my interview.
00:01:29It's clear to me that the threshold test has been passed, and therefore it is my lawful right to arrest
00:01:33you on suspicion of conspiracy to murder John Corbett.
00:01:37No, no, no.
00:01:39You will be held in custody while we gather further evidence against you.
00:01:42Well, what is happening here?
00:01:43I am being friends!
00:01:47Today was just for starters.
00:01:49Now I'm going to prove that Hastings is H.
00:01:58The inquiry into Superintendent Hastings is not a matter of which you are entitled to exercise choice.
00:02:03Cooperation is your lawful duty as police officers, and failure to comply is an offence under police conduct regulations.
00:02:09Any of you obstructing my officers can and will face arrest.
00:02:13But let's not fall out over this.
00:02:16I'm sure we can all work together nicely.
00:02:19Yeah, Fleming, DSO, look, can I borrow you a minute?
00:02:31Seven years and counting. No one's worked more closely with Ted Hastings than you two.
00:02:35You've better insights into the man than anyone else in AC12.
00:02:39So, what you know, I need to know, my team needs to know.
00:02:47Mom, I'm not comfortable kicking the cover when he's down.
00:02:51He recruited you?
00:02:52Yes, Mom.
00:02:53Mm-hmm.
00:02:55Stuck by you when perhaps some others wouldn't have shagging witnesses and suspects and the like.
00:03:02Come on.
00:03:02I sympathise with your loyalties, DSO or not. I really do.
00:03:06But on the other hand, we have found 50 grand stashed in his hotel room, so if I were you
00:03:09I wouldn't go around professing too close a loyalty to Ted Hastings.
00:03:12Otherwise people might just start suspecting you of being an accessory to his offences.
00:03:20H, a senior police officer sitting at the top of an institutionalised relationship between organised crime and corrupt police officers.
00:03:33AC12 failed to bring him down.
00:03:37Um...
00:03:39I won't.
00:03:46Wow.
00:03:5050 grand.
00:03:52Ma'am Sag, can we talk please?
00:03:55Sure. What's up?
00:03:56I've been looking into John Corbett's past like you asked me to.
00:03:59He said it was completely confidential and I couldn't share it with anyone.
00:04:02What have you found?
00:04:05Er...
00:04:06May I ask what's going on in here?
00:04:08Yeah, a private conversation.
00:04:10Didn't you hear DCS Carmichael?
00:04:12We need to know everything.
00:04:14It's Michelle, isn't it?
00:04:15Yes.
00:04:16Yeah, listen Michelle, we're AC12.
00:04:18We do this to other units week in, week out, so don't try telling me how it works.
00:04:21We're witnesses, not suspects.
00:04:23Stop making a tit of yourself and piss off.
00:04:29Sorry, go on.
00:04:31It goes back to Superintendent Hastings' service with the Royal Hostel Constabulary.
00:04:36When he was a PC in the 1980s, he was interviewed in connection with the disappearance of Anne-Marie McGillis.
00:04:43Call this mum?
00:04:44Yeah.
00:04:45The records aren't brilliant.
00:04:47No, they never were in them days.
00:04:48But they're being retained as the disappearance remains unsolved.
00:04:50You've got this on file?
00:04:51Yes, Sarge, but I've kept it security protected.
00:04:54Well done.
00:04:55But I don't want you getting in trouble, so you should share the file with DCS Carmichael's team.
00:05:01Yes, ma'am.
00:05:02Thank you, ma'am.
00:05:06Christ's sake, Kate.
00:05:08I'm just calling it as I see it, Steve.
00:05:10The truth comes first.
00:05:12What, we just helped Carmichael hammer nails in the gaffer's coffin?
00:05:14Well, you heard Carmichael.
00:05:15If the gaffer is found guilty, I can guarantee you it'll be us you'll be after next.
00:05:19Oh, we must have known Hastings was burnt.
00:05:20And what if the gaffer's innocent?
00:05:22We'll have betrayed him.
00:05:24He'll come after us and we'll deserve it.
00:05:25Yeah, well, I don't know about you, Steve, but I'm not going to sit around and wait for a kicking
00:05:29off the gaffer or car, Michael,
00:05:30when there's police work to be done.
00:05:40Stand clear of the door.
00:06:00Corbett's murder, Hastings arrest.
00:06:02Fortunately, it will all be covered by our application for public interest immunity.
00:06:06Nothing need ever come out.
00:06:08Unless Carmichael proves a link between Hastings and organized crime.
00:06:12We have to go public with that.
00:06:14There's pros and cons, PR wise.
00:06:17Which makes me think we need to, um, emphasize the wording.
00:06:22The wording?
00:06:23Operation Petry's objective was to examine institutionalized links between corrupt police officers and organized criminals.
00:06:31Most people would prefer us spending that money reducing response times, putting more bobbies on the beat.
00:06:39Anyway, I'll leave that with you.
00:06:41Where are you going?
00:06:42The inquiry into Superintendent Hastings must be above reproach.
00:06:47Wouldn't hurt to make sure.
00:07:06Well, this is never easy.
00:07:08No.
00:07:09Yeah!
00:07:11Yeah!
00:07:12Yeah!
00:07:12Yeah!
00:07:23Sorry for your loss.
00:07:25I'm sorry to have to ask.
00:07:26But we're making further inquiries into John's undercover operation.
00:07:30I can't help you.
00:07:32Not sure I would, even if I could.
00:07:38I met John a few times.
00:07:41He was a very brave man.
00:07:47Steph, from what Moseyside Police have told us about your reaction to the news of your husband's death,
00:07:53it has made us question some of the things you said to us when we was last here.
00:07:58You're not in any trouble.
00:08:01You just want to do right by John.
00:08:10Sit down if you like.
00:08:22It was all an act before.
00:08:25John told me that was how to play it to protect him.
00:08:30Going back to our visit on the 10th of March, we asked you about John's links to Northern Ireland.
00:08:39He grew up over there.
00:08:42When his mum died, he was took in by his auntie.
00:08:45Did John ever talk about his mum?
00:08:47Yeah.
00:08:48We've got a name.
00:08:50I'm Marie McGillis.
00:08:52I'm Marie, yeah.
00:08:54What did John say about her?
00:08:57John never said much.
00:08:59To be honest, I don't know how much he ever knew.
00:09:01He was...
00:09:02He was only a kid when it all happened.
00:09:04About nine or ten.
00:09:05And what happened?
00:09:09The story was, Anne-Marie was helping the police and then the police betrayed her.
00:09:16Then on she was an informant and that's why she got killed.
00:09:21Did John ever say there was a particular officer involved?
00:09:26When he was older, his auntie said there was one that Anne-Marie had talked about.
00:09:32A young fella her age.
00:09:35I think he took a shine to her and she trusted him to look out for her.
00:09:41He should've, but he didn't.
00:09:44Or worse.
00:09:46What do you mean worse?
00:09:50It's something that John said.
00:09:52This copper, he was...
00:09:53He was married to Anne.
00:09:54And there was a bit of scandal about him spending so much time around Anne-Marie, so...
00:09:59Maybe it suited him for Anne-Marie to go missing.
00:10:02Did John have any evidence of this?
00:10:06Not assuming what...
00:10:07Was there a name for this officer?
00:10:10If there was, I never heard her.
00:10:13Not from John.
00:10:16Did John ever connect this family history to the undercover operation he was involved in at the time of his
00:10:20death?
00:10:21John never told me what his job was about.
00:10:24For me own protection.
00:10:27And it's...
00:10:29Why are you so interested in what happened to Northern Ireland?
00:10:33Is there a connection?
00:10:35We don't know.
00:10:44Corbett never mentioned Hastings to staff.
00:10:46He was only a kid when it happened.
00:10:48Maybe he never knew the name.
00:10:49Still, the undercover officer recruited to investigate links between the OCG and corrupt officers all the way up to H.
00:10:55Just happens to be the son of a woman murdered on the gaffers' patch.
00:10:58Well, now we know why Corbett was so convinced the gaffers have been.
00:11:01But what we don't know is if someone else knew about Corbett's parceling to the gaffer.
00:11:04Or if somehow Corbett managed to put himself forward for the job.
00:11:07Exactly.
00:11:09Any chance of it being a coincidence?
00:11:11Coincidence, my arms.
00:11:19I see you've cleared everybody out.
00:11:21That'll save them mutual embarrassment when I'm reinstated.
00:11:24DCS Carmichael had concerns about security.
00:11:28AC-12 had a corrupt DI who shot his way out of here.
00:11:36Do you manage to get any sleep?
00:11:38Not much.
00:11:46Thank you, as you are.
00:11:50Listen, this heavy mob that you've just parachuted in, they look a bit trigger-happy to me.
00:11:54But our man, Police Sergeant Kyle Ferringham, he knows this building inside out.
00:11:58But you will not find a safer pair of hands.
00:12:01Well, you just said it. He's your man.
00:12:03I'll stick with mine.
00:12:19Second interview of Edward Hastings in the presence of his solicitor by DCS Carmichael, DI Brandes and PS Trent, who
00:12:24remain under caution.
00:12:25As you know, you may be held for up to 24 hours, at which point you will either be released
00:12:29or charged with conspiracy to murder John Corbett.
00:12:35Pausing interview.
00:12:39PS Ferringham on official business.
00:12:40Yes.
00:12:43What's going on?
00:12:45Deal Bigelow.
00:12:46Senior legal counsel to the PCC attending as an official observer to ensure correct procedures.
00:12:53Why wasn't I informed?
00:12:54You just were.
00:12:58Mom.
00:13:02Hi, Ted.
00:13:14Resuming interview now with PCC Senior Legal Counsel observing.
00:13:18Mr. Hastings, how did you...
00:13:20I thought, Mom, that we had agreed that I would be addressed by my rank.
00:13:26Given the gravity of the charge against you, I know we'd both hate to be accused of special treatment.
00:13:30Best we treat you like any normal, regular person who's been accused of plotting to kill someone.
00:13:35Don't you agree?
00:13:37When did you receive confirmation that John Corbett had assaulted your wife?
00:13:44I'm sorry to probe. I know this must be extremely upsetting for you.
00:13:48On the 12th of March.
00:13:49When on the 12th of March?
00:13:51During the operation to apprehend him.
00:13:55Oh.
00:13:57I see.
00:13:58Talk about a pressure situation. My heart goes out to you.
00:14:01To have that trauma at that very same moment as being in command of armed officers surrounding John Corbett.
00:14:07Still, and I am sorry about this, I do need to ask you about the events that followed.
00:14:12Dear Brandis.
00:14:13Document 53 in your folders.
00:14:16Document 53 is the copy of the report made by the tactical firearms commander during said operation on the 12th
00:14:22of March.
00:14:23Written on the 13th of March and received later that day by the strategic firearms commander.
00:14:29Drawing your attention to page three of said report, paragraph four.
00:14:34Superintendent Hastings relayed a Fahrenheit order to DS Arnott.
00:14:39Did you give said order?
00:14:40Yes.
00:14:40What's your understanding of said order?
00:14:42The authority to deploy lethal force to prevent immediate loss of life or prevent immediate danger to the public.
00:14:50Responsibility for issuing said order lies with the strategic firearms commander.
00:14:53For the order to be issued by any other officer is unlawful.
00:14:56Corbett had already drawn his firearm.
00:14:59DS Arnott was facing an immediate threat to life.
00:15:01I was concerned that DS Arnott would hesitate and that Corbett would discharge his firearm.
00:15:05I gave the order to save my officer's life.
00:15:08In your mind, having just learnt that Corbett had tortured your wife, no other motivations were at work?
00:15:16None.
00:15:17And that he was involved in the death of one of your officer's PC, Manit Binderham?
00:15:21Yes.
00:15:21You weren't vengeful towards Corbett?
00:15:23My first concern remained, as it should be for all police officers, the preservation of life.
00:15:28Clearly you weren't concerned with the preservation of John Corbett's life.
00:15:30I did not cause his death. He brought it upon himself when he went rogue.
00:15:34I take no pleasure in this, but the man had it common to him in spades.
00:15:39I'd like to return to the remarks you made to DS Railston, following the assault on your wife.
00:15:45Back to document 60 in your folders.
00:15:47Document 60 is a crime report by DS Samantha Railston.
00:15:50Detailed statements made by Edward Hastings on the 8th of March.
00:15:54Page two, paragraph three. Superintendent Hastings stated,
00:15:59whoever's responsible better start praying.
00:16:01He's up in front of the judge before I get my hands on him.
00:16:03What did you mean by that?
00:16:06It was rhetorical.
00:16:08And what would you have done if, as per your statement, you had got your hands on him?
00:16:13I would have done what any police officer would have done and arrested him for grievous bodily harm.
00:16:18Which sounds like what any law-abiding officer would do.
00:16:20Well, I am a law-abiding officer.
00:16:22And yet, on the 12th of March, you ordered DS Arnott to shoot John Corbett in cold blood.
00:16:26To prevent an immediate loss of life.
00:16:27And later that same day you visited Lee Banks, an OCG member on remand in Blackthorne prison.
00:16:32Yeah, to harvest information on the OCG.
00:16:34When DS Arnott quite rightly did not deploy lethal force against John Corbett,
00:16:37did you take matters into your own hands and disclose to Lee Banks that John Corbett was an undercover police
00:16:43officer?
00:16:43No, I did not.
00:16:44Disclosing this information with the expectation that it would be passed on to the OCG?
00:16:48No.
00:16:50I'm really sorry to leave for something that I know you find very upsetting,
00:16:53but I'd like to return to the injuries that John Corbett inflicted on your wife.
00:16:57If you must.
00:17:00The case was dealt with by the Serious Crime Unit.
00:17:04Document 60 in your folders. Drawing your attention to page 2.
00:17:07Parra 2.
00:17:09When questioned, Superintendent Hastings denied knowledge of any significance to the pattern of injuries sustained by the victim.
00:17:15Is that what you said to do, Esther Elston?
00:17:17Yes.
00:17:18Thank you for being truthful with us.
00:17:20I can't tell you how much easier it makes everything.
00:17:23Now, as part of our inquiry, we've been given access to your service record.
00:17:27Service record is summarised in Document 2 in your folders.
00:17:33Service record indicates Edward Hastings joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1982
00:17:38and served as a police constable for seven years
00:17:41to leave promotion to police sergeant and transfer in 1989.
00:17:46Sorry, I don't mean to put you on the spot, but seven years policing in Northern Ireland in the 1980s
00:17:51and you never came across a pattern of injuries that, um, involved the wrists, knees and uncles.
00:17:55Yeah, but look, you have to remember that my team had only just discovered that D.S.
00:17:59Railston's officer commanding Detective Chief Superintendent Lester Harbreeze was corrupt, having been an accomplice with the OCG in their armed
00:18:07robbery of the Eastfield Depot.
00:18:08So it's your offering by way of an explanation that you withheld information for fear of how it would be
00:18:14misused by Railston?
00:18:16The assault of my wife appeared to be the work of the organised crime group that we were investigating, a
00:18:20threat or a warning to me to, er, suppress the inquiry.
00:18:26I just didn't want to give them the satisfaction of knowing how upsetting I found the whole effect.
00:18:31So you did appreciate the significance of the injuries?
00:18:34Yes, all right. Look, if you want me to state the obvious, yes.
00:18:37A resemblance to punishment and or torture meted out by paramilitary and or terrorist organisations.
00:18:43Indeed. So now let's turn to your service of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the period 1982-89 inclusive.
00:18:50Document 62. PC Edward Hastings served in West Belfast.
00:18:55A periodic professional assessment submitted in the summer of 1988 by Police Sergeant Thomas Cranford notes the following.
00:19:04Hastings appears to have a rapport with the Catholic community due to his own Catholic tendencies.
00:19:10Are you able to tell us a little bit about your background?
00:19:12Well, I'd really rather not.
00:19:14A Catholic in the IUC, you in the minority.
00:19:17I was, and I am a police officer.
00:19:20I do not discriminate against my fellow officers on grounds of creed, and I would appreciate the same courtesy.
00:19:27Well, the Sergeant writing up that IUC periodic professional assessment didn't mind referring to it.
00:19:32Document 62 continued. Hastings' family background is more complicated, which may prove valuable in future assignments.
00:19:40What does he mean by that?
00:19:41That's not all you have to ask him.
00:19:43We did.
00:19:44Document 65 in your folder. Statement by former police sergeant, now retired, Thomas Cranford.
00:19:51Submitted to Anti-Corruption Unit 3 on the 14th of March.
00:19:55We all thought he was Protestant.
00:19:57Edward and Hastings, what else is the fellow going to be?
00:20:01Turned out that was a sensitive subject.
00:20:03His old man was a Protestant, but he married a Catholic.
00:20:06And when he went off, his mum brought up young Ted that way.
00:20:09Why did you leave the IUC?
00:20:10Well, the kind of talk we just heard being quoted didn't help.
00:20:16In 1989, you suffered serious injuries.
00:20:19On the 29th of June, 1989, an IUC patrol vehicle drove over a pipe bomb, causing the death of PC
00:20:26Patrick O'Malley and serious injury to PC Edward Hastings.
00:20:30Two Catholic officers targeted.
00:20:32Yeah.
00:20:33Well, it doesn't take a genius to see why I put in for a transfer.
00:20:36Were you targeted for another reason?
00:20:40I don't know what you're referring to.
00:20:42I'd like to examine events in the period 1988-89, and specifically a special assignment that you took part in.
00:20:50Do you recognise the name Anne-Marie McGillis?
00:20:54For the D.I., I'm showing interviewees image 41, an IUC file photograph of Anne-Marie McGillis.
00:21:02Mr Hastings?
00:21:07You're going back 30 years here, come on.
00:21:11Well, let's see if this can jog your memory.
00:21:14Document 78 in your folders.
00:21:16Document 78 is a report entered into the Royal Ulster Constabulary files on missing persons, dated the 23rd of May,
00:21:221989.
00:21:23Anne-Marie McGillis was reported missing on the 19th of April, 1989.
00:21:28The night before, Tuesday the 18th of April, Anne-Marie left her son with a neighbour,
00:21:34informing the neighbour that she was popping out for a couple of hours to visit a friend in hospital.
00:21:38Anne-Marie never returned to collect her son.
00:21:41No witnesses came forward to reveal Anne-Marie's movements on the night she disappeared.
00:21:45No one known to Anne-Marie was able to identify the family friend who was admitted into hospital.
00:21:50The missing persons team concluded that this person didn't exist, and that Anne-Marie had deceived her neighbour regarding her
00:21:56activities on the night she disappeared.
00:21:57A number of individuals known to Anne-Marie were interviewed in connection with the missing persons enquiry, and one such
00:22:03individual was Police Constable Edward Hastings.
00:22:06Do you recall these events, Mr Hastings?
00:22:09Some.
00:22:09What do you recall?
00:22:12Well, Anne-Marie's husband had been murdered a few years before.
00:22:17Apparently he was active during the troubles and one of those nasty little tit-for-tat killings.
00:22:23Anyway, Anne-Marie, she blamed someone higher up the chain of command for her husband's death.
00:22:29You know, she felt that he was sacrificed needlessly, and even grief, I think, made her turn to passing information
00:22:39to the police about terrorist activities.
00:22:42She was a Chiss and informant?
00:22:45Yeah.
00:22:45And did you play a role in Anne-Marie serving as a Chiss?
00:22:48Yeah, well, she lived on my patch.
00:22:51You know, in those days it was very difficult for the RUC to enter certain areas, to put it mildly.
00:22:58And I think some local women found out my mother was a Catholic, and that I was a Catholic too,
00:23:02and I think that brought a bit of trust.
00:23:05You were instrumental in Anne-Marie trusting the police with information she was disclosing about terrorist organisations?
00:23:10I helped, that's all.
00:23:11Did you have meetings with Mrs McGillis?
00:23:15Some.
00:23:15Well, according to the file that you didn't always meet Anne-Marie in covert locations, you were seen entering and
00:23:19leaving her home.
00:23:21Yes, well, you know, I gave her a hand with odd jobs, there was no man about that.
00:23:27I'm no expert in RUC covert tactics in the 1980s, but I would have thought that making it appear that
00:23:32a young woman from a Republican community has some kind of friendship with a police officer
00:23:36is only going to invite trouble, the sort of trouble that might get you targeted by a pipe bomb.
00:23:41Or get your lady friend murdered.
00:23:43I object to the term lady friend.
00:23:45What level of friendship was it?
00:23:48What do you mean?
00:23:50Well, she's an attractive young widow.
00:23:52Yes. And I was a married man.
00:23:54According to the file, there were rumours that the two of you were conducting an affair.
00:23:57Yeah, but that's what they were. Rumours, just gossip.
00:24:00Drummed up by a bunch of people who are no better than they should have been.
00:24:02Regardless, I'm sure you can see how your intimacy could have put Anne-Marie in jeopardy.
00:24:06That's not what happened.
00:24:12Did she meet a police officer to pass information on the evening of Tuesday the 18th of April 1989?
00:24:22Yes.
00:24:24You?
00:24:25Yes.
00:24:27What happened that night?
00:24:28Well, she told me that she'd made up some story about going to visit a sick friend.
00:24:33She passed the information to me, and as far as I know, she returned home.
00:24:37Were you involved in her disappearance?
00:24:38No.
00:24:41As God is my witness, I was not.
00:24:44According to the missing persons file, you were the last person to see Anne-Marie McGillis alive.
00:24:47That is an equivocation.
00:24:49Detective Chief Superintendent, as well you know.
00:24:53I'll rephrase.
00:24:55You were the last person to admit to police in an official statement to seeing Anne-Marie McGillis alive.
00:25:01I watched her walk down the street.
00:25:03Turn the corner.
00:25:04Anne-Marie McGillis trusted you implicitly.
00:25:07Yes, I believe she did.
00:25:08One theory considered by the IEC is that you exploited that trust to lure Anne-Marie to her death.
00:25:13Completely false.
00:25:13The theory being that as a Catholic, you were susceptible to relationships with the very organisations that Anne-Marie was
00:25:18informing on.
00:25:19Look, you know, growing up back then in the 70s, you know, in the city, they were everywhere.
00:25:22They were part of the culture.
00:25:23This sort of organisation.
00:25:25Oh, come on, no. I didn't want any part of that. I became a police officer.
00:25:29Anything familiar about their appearance?
00:25:30It was a different time, a different thing entirely.
00:25:33Nonetheless, they're wearing the clothing associated with organised crime groups.
00:25:36The AC-12 have been investigated for seven years or more.
00:25:38There's no direct connection.
00:25:40Anne-Marie McGillis's remains weren't found until 2001.
00:25:44Document 72.
00:25:45Document 72 is the post-mortem report on Anne-Marie McGillis.
00:25:50The cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the head.
00:25:53Additional gunshot wounds were detected bilaterally on the victim's wrists, knees and ankles.
00:25:59Lesions caused by haemorrhage indicate these gunshot wounds were inflicted when the victim was still alive.
00:26:05Anne-Marie McGillis was tortured in the same pattern as that inflicted on her wife.
00:26:09Yeah, but that's how they did it back then, but this does not necessitate a direct connection.
00:26:14Her son. Did you ever meet him?
00:26:18Er...
00:26:18No, er, she always left her son, er, some neighbours or her family friends, something like that.
00:26:23She never wanted him involved.
00:26:25When Anne-Marie disappeared, her son was orphaned at the age of ten.
00:26:28He was taken in by Anne-Marie's sister and her brother-in-law who resided in Liverpool.
00:26:32The boy was adopted and he took their surname.
00:26:38Corbett.
00:26:38John Corbett.
00:26:41John Corbett.
00:27:00Corbett was Anne-Marie's wee fella.
00:27:12Would you like to take a break, Ted?
00:27:14Yes, of course.
00:27:16OK.
00:27:25Is there anything I can do, sir?
00:27:26Just give me a minute.
00:27:52HE SIGHS
00:27:57Mark Moffett. DI Fleming.
00:27:59DS Arnott. Do you have a minute, sir?
00:28:01Oh, Sarah's long gone. Mark's fine.
00:28:04I don't know if you remember us from AC-12.
00:28:07Can you give us a minute?
00:28:08Yeah, sure.
00:28:09Water under the bridge as far as I'm concerned.
00:28:11No hard feelings.
00:28:13We'd like to ask you a couple of questions about your commercial relationship with Superintendent Hastings.
00:28:22Ted was an original investor in a development that went south about six years back.
00:28:27Um, we've got it back on track, so I offered Ted a buy-in to try and recoup his original
00:28:33losses.
00:28:34And did he?
00:28:35Unfortunately, he couldn't come up with the funds.
00:28:38According to Superintendent Hastings, you loaned him 50,000 pounds off book.
00:28:4450?
00:28:45Yeah. That's the figure we've been given.
00:28:48I don't know. Ted's got that idea.
00:28:51Does the name John Corbett mean anything to you?
00:28:55No. Sorry.
00:28:58If that's all.
00:29:00Thanks for your time.
00:29:02Give Ted my best.
00:29:08Well, we drew a blank on Corby.
00:29:10Yeah. Well, you saw his reaction when we mentioned the 50 grand. Something's not right.
00:29:14Need to find out what.
00:29:29Resuming interview, you remain under caution.
00:29:31Now let's examine in more detail some evidence we found in your hotel room on the 14th of March.
00:29:37Image nine.
00:29:39You recall image nine shows item reference MB1.
00:29:43You recall item reference MB1 is the brown envelope addressed to you,
00:29:47containing item reference MB2.
00:29:50MB2 are banknotes in the sum of 50,000 pounds.
00:29:54Superintendent Hastings has already given a full and clear explanation regarding this item.
00:29:59To summarise, it was an unsolicited advance on future profits.
00:30:04Superintendent Hastings was extremely uncomfortable about the loan and telephone Mark Moffat to return the money.
00:30:10D.I. Brandis.
00:30:11We took further steps to detect the source of said cash.
00:30:14I told you it came from Mark Moffat.
00:30:16D.I. Brandis.
00:30:18Document 40 in your folders.
00:30:21Forensic analysis of banknotes MB2 detected microscopic pollen deposits.
00:30:26Pollen grains detected on MB2 were subjected to chemical analysis.
00:30:29The chemical structure of pollen grains detected on MB2 closely resembles the chemical structure of pollen grains detected on items
00:30:37of evidence gathered during AC12's inquiry into Operation Pear Tree.
00:30:42Said evidence are item reference JLM5 and item reference JD5.
00:30:48Image 12, Tina.
00:30:51Image 12 shows a cache of banknotes in the sum of 25,000 pounds detected under floorboards at 21 Cleric
00:30:59Way.
00:31:00Do you recognise the banknotes shown in the image, Superintendent Hastings?
00:31:02Er, no, no, I do not.
00:31:04Said banknotes were detected at a property belonging to V. Han Malhotra.
00:31:08Image 31.
00:31:10Image 31 shows item reference JD5.
00:31:14JD5 is a cache of banknotes in the sum of 5,000 pounds detected at 17 Hazleton Street.
00:31:20Said banknotes were detected at a property belonging to P.S. Jane Cafferty.
00:31:25The similar pollen structures detected on items JD5, JLM5 and MB2 indicate a 99.5% probability the items derived
00:31:35from the same original source.
00:31:36I have not been bribed.
00:31:38The 50 grand Fanyu hotel room came from the same pot as that used to bribe V. Han Malhotra and
00:31:43P.S. Jane Cafferty.
00:31:44And according to evidence obtained by your own unit, those individuals were in the pay of the same organised crime
00:31:51group in which John Corbett was embedded.
00:31:53I do not have a connection with Malhotra or Cafferty.
00:31:56This bribe proves you do.
00:31:57Was it an inducement or a reward for telling Lee Banks the identity of the undercover officer within the OCG?
00:32:04I disclose nothing to Banks.
00:32:06A disclosure which brought about the murder of John Corbett.
00:32:09No.
00:32:09What was Corbett on to that you were so desperate to keep hidden?
00:32:15I'll repeat the question.
00:32:17What was John Corbett on to that you were so desperate to keep hidden?
00:32:21Look.
00:32:23You have fabricated a motive where none existed.
00:32:27Who would want John Corbett dead?
00:32:30What do you mean?
00:32:31Well, if you didn't, who would?
00:32:32Well, clearly any individual against whom John Corbett might be gathering evidence, including those members of the OCG with whom
00:32:38he was embedded.
00:32:39Were there any specific corrupt police officers targeted by Operation Pairtree?
00:32:43Not that I'm aware of.
00:32:45Hmm.
00:32:46Document five in your folders.
00:32:49This is a copy of a document seized by OC12 on the 23rd of February from the offices of Operation
00:32:56Pairtree.
00:32:57I direct you to page six, paragraph six.
00:33:03It remains to be determined if police officers of senior and or executive rank are actively complicit in organised criminal
00:33:10activities, either as individuals or as a conspiracy.
00:33:13A hypothesis to be examined by the operation is that said alleged complicity is orchestrated by a single police officer
00:33:19of senior or executive rank.
00:33:22Do you recognise those words?
00:33:23Yeah, yeah. I've read the file. There's a hell of a lot of ifs and buts in that.
00:33:27Page six, paragraph eight.
00:33:29Detective Inspector Matthew Cotton serving in Anti-Corruption Unit 12 from 2013 until his death recorded a dying declaration on
00:33:36the 18th of July 2015.
00:33:38Thank you, Tina.
00:33:43Who's Top Dog Dot?
00:33:46No, you're the caddy. We know that.
00:33:51Told.
00:33:52You told someone.
00:33:54Someone very senior.
00:33:58Promotion.
00:33:59Promotion. Someone promoted you.
00:34:02Who?
00:34:03Come on, Dot.
00:34:04Come in, he can't talk.
00:34:06Right, blink with the first two letters of his name.
00:34:09A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, H.
00:34:18His name begins with H.
00:34:20Right, second letter.
00:34:21A, B, C, D, E.
00:34:25That's it, out of the way.
00:34:28I'll start bagging.
00:34:31Thank you, Tina.
00:34:33In this dying declaration, D.I. Cotton declared that the name of the senior officer commanding the complicity with organized
00:34:39crime began with H.
00:34:42Page six, paragraph eight, continued.
00:34:46An investigation by anti-corruption unit 12 concluded in 2017 that H was Assistant Chief Constable Derek Hilton.
00:34:54Hilton was found dead on the 5th of May 2017.
00:34:57However, the hypothesis must be examined that H is an officer other than Hilton.
00:35:02Do you recall these words?
00:35:03Well, the evidence against Hilton was overwhelming.
00:35:05Clearly, if any new evidence came to light, AC-12 would gladly investigate.
00:35:10Has any other officer ever been accused of being H?
00:35:12H.
00:35:15I'll repeat the question.
00:35:17Has any other senior officer ever been accused of being H?
00:35:20Yes.
00:35:21Who?
00:35:24The accusation was a calculated falsehood designed to sabotage a lawful anti-corruption inquiry.
00:35:30Who was accused?
00:35:32In an effort to sabotage an AC-12 inquiry that was about to uncover his own offenses,
00:35:37Assistant Chief Constable Derek Hilton falsely accused the senior investigating officer
00:35:43in order to discredit AC-12, discredit the inquiry, and to protect his own wrongdoing.
00:35:49The SIO being who?
00:35:54Myself.
00:35:55To be clear, you were served at the Regulation 15 notice.
00:35:58The allegation against Superintendent Hastings was disproved.
00:36:02It wasn't disproved.
00:36:04There was insufficient evidence to prove it.
00:36:06I'd argue they're the same thing.
00:36:08They're not. They're really not.
00:36:09Detective Chief Superintendent, better to save the commentary and stick to asking questions.
00:36:17Just saying.
00:36:18Actually, while I've got your attention, I wonder if we can dig into, um,
00:36:23the search of Superintendent Hastings' hotel room.
00:36:26This has all been covered.
00:36:27Not by me.
00:36:28What with the grounds for the search?
00:36:31Section 18-5.
00:36:35Well, why then does, um, document 12 in your folders, the arresting officer's report,
00:36:41refer to Section 32 as the legal power used to carry out the search?
00:36:45Dear Brandis.
00:36:49The correct search form was supplied.
00:36:51Afterwards, yes.
00:36:52But initially it seems that the, um, officers at the scene of Superintendent Hastings' arrest
00:36:57were under the impression that the search was being carried out under Section 32.
00:37:02You were there at that time, weren't you?
00:37:04Yes.
00:37:05So under what power did you carry out the search at the time?
00:37:12There was some confusion.
00:37:14I see that, D.I. Brandis.
00:37:18You carried out the search under Section 32.
00:37:22There's even the original search form in the file.
00:37:27As we all know, Section 32 permits the search of a premises
00:37:32the detainee was out either at the time of his arrest
00:37:34or immediately prior to that arrest.
00:37:37I refer to Document 13 in your folders.
00:37:40The statement given by Superintendent Hastings on the 14th of March.
00:37:44Superintendent Hastings states that he travelled from this office,
00:37:48Anti-Corruption Unit 12, to the Edge Park Hotel.
00:37:53Superintendent Hastings wasn't in his hotel room at the time of his arrest
00:37:56or immediately prior.
00:37:58Section 32 was the incorrect legal power.
00:38:02This mistake was detected and corrected only after the search.
00:38:06Now as items MB1 and MB2 submitted in evidence were detected unlawfully,
00:38:11I can't see how the cash of £50,000 can be used in evidence against Superintendent Hastings.
00:38:17Well, that is for a court to decide.
00:38:19Well, given what I've heard, the judge will almost certainly exclude it.
00:38:23And it's the only evidence that you've got linking Superintendent Hastings to organised crime.
00:38:42I think we should call a temporary halt, giving my team time to examine further evidence.
00:38:47Mr. Hastings, you'll be returned to custody and charged to release within 24 hours of your original arrest.
00:38:52Approximately six hours.
00:38:55Interview terminated.
00:39:04Mere?
00:39:05Yes. Yes, of course.
00:39:13Jim, I don't know what to say.
00:39:15I am not going to lie to it.
00:39:16It is a good job that someone was paying attention.
00:39:19God knows where your solicitor was, Jim, and all that.
00:39:21Everything is in here in black and white.
00:39:23I don't know why I didn't see it myself.
00:39:26The idea that you are corrupt is ridiculous.
00:39:29Clearly, Mark Moffat's lying about the money.
00:39:32You don't have a bent bone in your body.
00:39:35This will all go away, Ted.
00:39:38Trust me.
00:39:40Thanks.
00:39:42Yeah.
00:39:43Yeah.
00:39:52DI Fleming.
00:39:54DS Arnott.
00:39:55CDSU Powell.
00:39:56It's fine.
00:39:57I've got this.
00:40:02Ma'am.
00:40:04Ma'am.
00:40:08Ma'am.
00:40:11Detective Superintendent Alison Powell with DI Fleming, DS Arnott AC12.
00:40:16Confirm that you grant permission for this recording.
00:40:19DI Fleming confirmed.
00:40:20DS Arnott confirmed.
00:40:21We'd like to fill in some background on how John Corbett was recruited.
00:40:25How was Corbett assigned as the UCO?
00:40:28John was one of a number of candidates considered for the role.
00:40:31He presented with a distinguished record of successful operations against organised crime.
00:40:36Did he come to you first, Ma'am?
00:40:39Did he volunteer?
00:40:40What are you getting at DI Fleming?
00:40:43It's a straight question, Ma'am.
00:40:46There was a short list.
00:40:47The candidates were evaluated.
00:40:49Corbett was selected as the right officer for the job.
00:40:52Who selected him?
00:40:58Look.
00:40:59I made the recommendations on Corbett.
00:41:02This was my operation.
00:41:04But you can't put all of this on me.
00:41:05I wasn't the only person involved.
00:41:08Who else was involved in selecting Corbett?
00:41:20This is off the record.
00:41:26How long have we got?
00:41:28Just a few hours.
00:41:30Gonna have to blue light it.
00:41:35We just got the email.
00:41:37I'm calling for authentication.
00:41:40Thanks.
00:41:40Edward Hastings.
00:41:41New evidence against you has come to light.
00:41:43This evidence will be submitted in written form
00:41:45and you and your sister will have four hours to consider this evidence.
00:41:49What new evidence?
00:41:50Great, thanks.
00:41:51Pending further investigation,
00:41:53I will be seeking an extension of 12 hours to your permitted custody time.
00:41:57What evidence?
00:41:58Take him to the cells.
00:41:59Come on, Ted.
00:42:00We should do as they say.
00:42:12Thank you, Tina.
00:42:13Ma'am.
00:42:15Looks like we got him, ma'am.
00:42:18You nearly cost me this case.
00:42:22I'll be expecting a transfer request first thing in the morning.
00:42:24I'll be...
00:42:25...
00:42:43...
00:42:46I'll be expecting a review.
00:42:46Oh.
00:42:48What are we missing?
00:42:49To be on the phone, T.
00:42:50I'll be...
00:42:50Jane.
00:42:52I am not.
00:42:52Oh, I am.
00:42:53So...
00:43:02WHISTLE BLOWS
00:43:07Mrs. Corbett, we've got a new line of inquiry.
00:43:10We need your urgent help with it.
00:43:12May we come in, please?
00:43:13Yeah, come in, please.
00:43:24TNC, that's the 4-1.
00:43:25Come on, come on.
00:43:54Number 1, 3-0.
00:43:56Control. Subject, it's in building. Repeat.
00:43:59Subject, it's in building.
00:44:08This must be awful for you, Ted.
00:44:29Resuming interview of Edward Hastings, remain under caution.
00:44:32Have you had an opportunity to consider with your solicitor the new documents disclosed to you?
00:44:37I have.
00:44:40Edward Hastings, when was the last time you were in contact with John Corbett?
00:44:43Never.
00:44:45And have you ever been near enough to make physical contact with John Corbett?
00:44:50Never.
00:44:52I'll ask you again.
00:44:53When were you last in physical contact with John Corbett?
00:44:56I only ever saw the fellow once.
00:44:58It was across a very busy street during an AC-12 surveillance operation.
00:45:04Must have been 100 yards away.
00:45:05As you'd have seen in the disclosure documents,
00:45:07specifically document 106 in your folders,
00:45:10forensic examination of John Corbett's body has detected human hairs not belonging to him.
00:45:15Said hairs were attached to follicular cells, which permitted DNA analysis.
00:45:18The DNA found in these follicular cells matches that of a person on the police database,
00:45:23who is a police officer who has submitted a DNA sample for routine elimination from crime scene contamination.
00:45:30As you know from the documents disclosed to you,
00:45:33the DNA deposits detected on John Corbett's body match your elimination samples.
00:45:38I've never been within 100 yards of John Corbett.
00:45:42Your DNA was found on his body. Can you explain this funding?
00:45:45I can't. Must have been planted.
00:45:47As a result of this evidence, I have been in consultation with the senior prosecutor in the complex case unit.
00:45:52I did not kill Corbett.
00:45:54She is satisfied that the evidence against you is sufficient to charge you with the murder of John Corbett.
00:45:58No, I'm being framed.
00:46:00I would now let her move on to examine your motive for murdering John Corbett.
00:46:03I did not murder Corbett!
00:46:05May I ask, given the gravity of the murder charge, why are you continuing?
00:46:09I have been tasked with investigating the highest level of corruption between police officers and organised crime.
00:46:14The highest level.
00:46:15I am not corrupt. I'm the one who's leading the fight against corruption.
00:46:21The highest level is the individual, codenamed H.
00:46:28Significantly, Cotton led AC-12's inquiry into the identity of the police officer believed to be the intermediary for organised
00:46:35crime, codenamed the Caddy.
00:46:36The Caddy was identified as being Cotton himself.
00:46:40Superintendent Hastings was the senior investigating officer on the inquiry into H.
00:46:46Is he an interesting parallel there?
00:46:49No, no. There's no parallel there. I'm not H.
00:46:52Still, there was an allegation that you were.
00:46:54Why were you so reluctant to entrust the investigation into an independent anti-corruption unit?
00:46:59I-I wasn't.
00:47:00Why did you shoot Robert Denmore?
00:47:03Image 76 on screen.
00:47:05Image 76 shows Robert Denmore, a violent criminal with known associations to organised crime.
00:47:11Denmore was incriminated in a plot to tamper with evidence in Operation Trap Door.
00:47:14Denmore was shot dead by Superintendent Hastings on the ground floor of AC-12's headquarters on the 4th of May
00:47:202017.
00:47:22Yeah, Denmore posed an immediate threat to life and lethal force that was required to stop him.
00:47:26Therefore, the coroner recorded a finding of lawful killing.
00:47:31The official report records there were a dozen AFOs in the scene and none of them opened fire.
00:47:36In fact, according to the report, you snatched a firearm from a wounded AFO.
00:47:40Yeah, I did.
00:47:41The fatal round discharged by you prevented questioning of Denmore.
00:47:44Prevented the loss of life.
00:47:46Denmore would have been a key witness who could have confirmed Hilton as H.
00:47:50Yes.
00:47:51Or excluded him.
00:47:52Yes, also.
00:47:53You were prepared to lose that priceless evidence.
00:47:55The same judgement that you demonstrated on the 12th of March when you ordered DSR not to deploy lethal force
00:48:00against John Corbett.
00:48:01Look, I told you Corbett was armed.
00:48:03He was responsible for the death of Monique Bindra, Lester Hargreaves.
00:48:06I gave the order to safeguard my officer's life.
00:48:10Corbett was notifying DSR not of a meeting with a high ranking nominal who could well have been H.
00:48:15But Corbett was a liar.
00:48:18He was playing games with all of us.
00:48:20He was a decorated undercover officer whose courageous actions in the past had brought to justice hardened members of organised
00:48:25criminal groups.
00:48:26Corbett gave DSR not alone the details of the meeting with H.
00:48:30He did.
00:48:30You ordered DSR not to disclose those details?
00:48:33You're damn right I did.
00:48:34I was his commanding officer.
00:48:35For Christ's sake, what the hell's going on here?
00:48:37And at that meeting the same day, the 12th of March at the Palisades Shopping Centre, what happened then?
00:48:41Well, no meeting took place.
00:48:42Why do you think that was?
00:48:43Well, Corbett was about to be apprehended by AC12.
00:48:47I suspected he, you know, lied about the meeting at the Palisades to secure his own escape.
00:48:51Well, he was telling the truth and the information was leaked to H.
00:48:56We detected no evidence of a leak.
00:48:59We examined your personal communications records and found no suspicious calls.
00:49:04However, I do need you to account for two unexplained findings.
00:49:07We've detected activity in the vicinity of AC12 on unregistered mobile phones, so-called burner phones, used for illicit communications.
00:49:17We've identified a specific burner phone. Tina, thank you.
00:49:21Document 92.
00:49:22Document 92 is a call history of an unregistered mobile 077 00 900 856.
00:49:28The device shows clusters of activity in the vicinity of AC12 over the last six weeks and also engaged in
00:49:35communication with other burner phones.
00:49:38Cross-checking with door entry download data reveals only one AC12 officer was present in the building on every occasion.
00:49:44077 00 00 900 900 856 was detected. That officer was Superintendent Edward Hastings.
00:49:51Is 077 00 900 856 your phone?
00:49:55No, it is not.
00:49:57Did you dispose of the phone?
00:49:58It was never a phone.
00:49:59Have you ever disposed of a communications device?
00:50:05Tina.
00:50:05Document 24. Document 24 shows screenshots from a laptop forensically recovered from the Flicker nightclub used by Lisa McQueen and
00:50:14John Corbett to communicate with H.
00:50:16As we can see, H issued his orders via text.
00:50:20I'll repeat the question. Have you ever disposed of a communications device?
00:50:24No.
00:50:24P.S. Trento, thank you.
00:50:25As stated by DCS Carmark, can we examine the communication history of Edward Hastings? Document 28 in your folders.
00:50:31Is said communication history relating to your personal registered mobile telephone and your work registered mobile telephone.
00:50:38From these phones, we've been able to harvest location data.
00:50:41We detected suspicious behaviour on the 5th of March.
00:50:45Location data places both phones at the Edge Park Hotel around 1500 hours a day.
00:50:51The user then switches off both phones for the rest of the day.
00:50:53When location data resumes, the next day, the 6th of March, the phones are back in the Edge Park Hotel.
00:50:59Why did you switch off your phones?
00:51:02I, um, you know, I really don't recall.
00:51:05Do you recall the significance of that date, the 5th of March?
00:51:08Uh, no.
00:51:10That night, the OCG carried out an armed robbery at the Eastfield Depot, making away with, um, seized goods with
00:51:15an estimated street value of 50 million pounds.
00:51:18Yeah, yeah, okay. Look, I'm sorry. I mean, the, the, the date must have slipped my mind.
00:51:22Where were you from 1500 hours on the 5th of March?
00:51:25Well, I remained, I remained in and around the, uh, Edge Park Hotel, uh, on standby for developments for, uh,
00:51:33SE-12's, uh, surveillance operation on the Eastfield Depot.
00:51:36This was a, uh, a hugely important operation. Wasn't it essential that you be contactable?
00:51:43Well, I had been established a direct line of communication through airwave radio, and I had direct dial access to
00:51:49my officers, and my own works phone was redundant.
00:51:53Why didn't you attend the operation in person?
00:51:55To ensure operational independence. D.I. Fleming, she acted as the, uh, tactical firearms commander, uh, under an independent strategic
00:52:05firearms commander.
00:52:06The result being that your whereabouts were unknown until you made contact via an airway radio much later that night.
00:52:11No, she, but, uh, neither here nor there.
00:52:13We attempted to trace your movements on the 5th of March, do you? Thank you.
00:52:18Starting from a radius of 100 metres around the Edge Park Hotel, we examined CCTV and traffic cameras, image 32.
00:52:24Who's seen in this image?
00:52:27Me.
00:52:28What are you doing in this image?
00:52:56We know from the recovered laptop from the nightclub that the OCG communicated with H via online messaging.
00:53:04Examination of the OCG's laptop's hard drive revealed a sophisticated rerouting system via various VPNs to disguise H's IP address.
00:53:15And while we're still unable to determine H's location, we know for certain that the hard drive of the computer
00:53:21would contain metadata proving it was used to communicate with the OCG.
00:53:26Evidence that he would take great pains to dispose of.
00:53:47Okay.
00:53:50Well, we shall come back to it.
00:53:55As we've established the night of the 5th of March, saw the OCG robbery at the Eastfield Depot at 22
00:54:01.40 hours that night.
00:54:02A status zero radio called me by PC Kieran Bloom requesting urgent assistance to Farmers Lane.
00:54:07How did you respond to that emergency call?
00:54:09Well, the authorized firearms officers who were giving assistance to the AC-12 surveillance of the Eastfield Depot were the
00:54:16nearest armed response unit.
00:54:18And so given our responsibility towards preserving life, I authorized the AFOs to render assistance.
00:54:26As a result of your actions, the OCG were able to flee Eastfield with 50 million pounds worth of seized
00:54:33goods.
00:54:33My decision was based on saving police officers' lives. Priceless, I would say.
00:54:40H would have wanted the robbery to succeed, wouldn't he, so that he could have shared in the proceeds?
00:54:45Oh, yeah. That's hypothetical.
00:54:49You went to a nightclub known to be an OCG haunt in the hope of effecting a meeting without independent
00:54:56authorization.
00:54:57Yeah, well, look, you know, they'd killed Monique. They'd murdered Lester Hargwitz. They'd held up the Eastfield Depot. Time was
00:55:04running out.
00:55:05You pretend to be aged successfully enough for the OCG to share with you the proceeds of the Eastfield robbery.
00:55:11No, I was using them to find out where the proceeds were hidden.
00:55:15Who better to impersonate H than H himself?
00:55:17No, that is not what was happening. It's like I told you, look, time was running. I was desperate.
00:55:23Well, it's convenient to rationalise all this as the desperation of a failing SIO.
00:55:27But before we do, let's consider the communications made between Corbett and you via a computer link.
00:55:34Okay, Tina.
00:55:35In document 105, in your folders and on screen, document 105 is a transcript of a written message composed by
00:55:42you and transmitted on the evening of the 12th of March.
00:55:45Please look at line three, which reads, I can definitely pull the right strings.
00:55:50Note the misspelling of definitely.
00:55:53Going back to early, messages believed to have been written by H. Please look at the message transmitted on the
00:56:003rd of March.
00:56:01Eastfield Depot is definitely high risk. Again, note the misspelling.
00:56:05How closely had you studied the messages by H?
00:56:07Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Quite closely.
00:56:09Closely enough to duplicate the misspelling of this particular word?
00:56:13Yes.
00:56:14You're the SIO on one of the biggest anti-corruption operations this force has ever seen, and you have the
00:56:20headspace to learn to spell like H.
00:56:24Yes.
00:56:25Isn't it more likely that you inadvertently misspelling this word?
00:56:27No.
00:56:28No? Isn't it more likely that you made the same mistake as H, because you are H?
00:56:32I am not H.
00:56:36Look at another part of the impersonated message. You compose line four. I need you to bring all this to
00:56:42a close.
00:56:42What did you mean by that?
00:56:44What H meant was that the Eastfield goods reliability and needed to be taken out of the country quickly.
00:56:49It could imply another meaning, that you were giving the order to execute John Corbett.
00:56:52No. Absolutely not.
00:56:54What private material was stored on the hard drive of the laptop computer that you erased on the 5th of
00:57:00March?
00:57:00No, it's not relevant to this inquiry.
00:57:02If we'd be able to find H's computer, we'd have the proof we needed you disposed of your computer because
00:57:06you knew that it would prove beyond all reasonable doubt that you are H.
00:57:10No.
00:57:11Then why did you dispose of the computer?
00:57:19I was looking at pornography. Nothing illegal, nothing extreme. I just did not want it to be banned, that's all.
00:57:30Nothing illegal or extreme, but you went to the lengths of disposing of the computer.
00:57:34Look, it was private stuff. So, you know, my wife has left me.
00:57:40Jesus Christ.
00:57:40Look, I really wanted to discuss it.
00:57:43And after you entered the nightclub as part of your, um, unauthorised undercover operation, you were next located where the
00:57:52Eastfield goods were being concealed.
00:57:54It was pure chance and active burner phone inadvertently left on by an OCG member that meant you were found.
00:57:59We could be, um, forgiven for thinking that you didn't want to be found.
00:58:02No, that's simply not true.
00:58:03The net was closing in. Your identity was slowly being unmasked. You reunited with the OCG in order to share
00:58:10in the profits of the Eastfield robbery.
00:58:12No, no, look, look. I had risked my life and my career in order to catch them. The two most
00:58:21precious things to me in the whole world, I laid them on the line.
00:58:26Because I was so determined. And I was so desperate that AC-12 would not fail.
00:58:34Do you know, one thing I keep going back to is that dying declaration by D.I. Cotton, Tina.
00:58:39Thank you. Cotton, your own officer named the top man as H. And now, finally, there's overwhelming evidence that H
00:58:46is you.
00:58:47I'm not H.
00:58:48John Corbett was proving that the trail led to your door.
00:58:51No.
00:58:51That's why you had John Corbett murdered.
00:58:52No.
00:58:53You ordered DSR not to shoot him dead.
00:58:55No.
00:58:55And when that plan failed, you visited Lee Banks in Blackthorn Prison and revealed to him that Corbett was an
00:59:00undercover police officer.
00:59:01No, no.
00:59:02But killing Corbett wasn't enough. You needed to know what he had on you, didn't you?
00:59:06No.
00:59:07And that was the biggest mistake that you made.
00:59:09Because in the final meeting with Corbett before you slashed his throat and dumped him at the breakers yard,
00:59:15one of your hairs contaminated Corbett's body.
00:59:18No.
00:59:20Edward Hastings H.
00:59:23I have been in consultation with the senior prosecutor at the complex case unit, and I will now go back
00:59:29to her, seeking authority to charge you with the murder of John Corbett, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and malfeasance
00:59:35in a public office.
00:59:36Yes.
00:59:37I think it might be helpful if Mr. Hastings has given some time with this semester.
00:59:42I'm by me.
00:59:44Thank you, Tina. Well done.
00:59:46Ma'am.
01:00:06I thought there was meant to be armed support while the GAPA was being interviewed.
01:00:12Looks like it's been scaled back. It'll be down to other operational commitments. Always is.
01:00:18Okay.
01:00:26You've got to hand it to Carmichael.
01:00:29There's a lot stacking up.
01:00:31And that's with setting aside the bundle of cash in your hotel room.
01:00:36Yeah, which I was about to return.
01:00:38All of it.
01:00:41Moffat denies any knowledge of the money, so nobody's put the exact sum to him.
01:00:45But according to the files, the amount required to buy into the property development wasn't 50 grand.
01:00:52It was 100.
01:00:53Now, if there is another 50 grand somewhere, eventually someone's going to find it.
01:01:02Now, I'm on your side, Ted, but if I was on a jury, I'd say this all looks damning.
01:01:08Now, I'm confident I can talk the PCC into applying political pressure to suppress Carmichael's investigation.
01:01:15Much better to blow our trumpets about recovering the stolen goods and neutralizing the OCG.
01:01:20You'll have to accept a misconduct charge for carrying out unauthorized operations and resign from the force.
01:01:28No doubt AC-12 will be disbanded.
01:01:33PHONE RINGS
01:01:35Thank you, yes. The threshold tests have been made definitely.
01:01:40What's going on?
01:01:41The DCS is under the ground prosecutor.
01:01:43Mm-hmm.
01:01:45Mom?
01:01:45Mom.
01:01:50DSR not?
01:01:51DI Fleming.
01:01:57Well, the last thing I need right now is another knife on me back.
01:02:00That was never our intention, sir.
01:02:02Yeah.
01:02:03Funny way of showing it.
01:02:06We've been making inquiries into some of the gaps in our understanding of Corbett's involvement in Operation Pear Tree.
01:02:11Yeah.
01:02:12Under whose orders goes?
01:02:14No, sir. On our own.
01:02:16We're just trying to find the truth.
01:02:19What's going on?
01:02:20We've gathered further information that may be relevant to your inquiry.
01:02:23Well, you can brief me in private.
01:02:25If it's okay with you, Mom.
01:02:26We intend to share our findings with Superintendent Hastings and his solicitor.
01:02:31His solicitor is making calls.
01:02:33Yeah, well, they've come to talk to me and I'd like to hear what they've got to say.
01:02:37Quite right.
01:02:38It's up to you if you want to be in on it or not.
01:02:42Operation Pear Tree was originally authorised following an instruction from Rohan Sindwani, the Police and Crime Commissioner.
01:02:49Sindwani had made an election promise to tackle police corruption.
01:02:54The specific remit of Pear Tree is to examine whether complicity between organised crime and police officers has been institutionalised
01:03:01in this force.
01:03:02Detective Superintendent Alison Powell, having no connection to Central Police, was brought in to lead Pear Tree.
01:03:08Powell identified suitable undercover officers from outside forces and submitted their CVs to Deputy Chief Constable Andrea Wise.
01:03:14Following a consultation process, John Corbett was selected to be the UCO.
01:03:18Bear in mind, Corbett's background was available to be examined as part of the process.
01:03:23This was before his service record was erased from the database and large portions of the Pear Tree files were
01:03:29redacted.
01:03:29DSU Powell informed us that PCC Sindwani took no part in the selection process, but it was agreed his Senior
01:03:35Legal Counsel would act on his behalf.
01:03:37Don't need to remind everyone, there's been controversies surrounding undercover operations.
01:03:42The PCC required assurances that Pear Tree was legally watertight.
01:03:48According to DSU Powell, the Senior Legal Counsel strongly favoured Corbett and was instrumental in selecting him.
01:03:55Corbett had a distinguished record handling the perils of being embedded inside an organised crime group.
01:04:01He was by far the best man for the job.
01:04:05Ms. Bigelow, when did you first become aware of John Corbett?
01:04:09Oh, when we looked at the files to select an undercover officer.
01:04:15Jill Bigelow, you do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention
01:04:19one question something you later rely on in court.
01:04:21Or anything you do say, maybe you send evidence.
01:04:29Okay.
01:04:32Well, given that the DIR's off, I'd like to make my own personal recording. Any objections?
01:04:38I think we need to take a step back, actually.
01:04:42Recording on?
01:04:43If you could kindly bear with us, ma'am.
01:04:46Ms. Bigelow, did you ever meet John Corbett?
01:04:49I refer you to my previous response.
01:04:52Yes, Arnold.
01:04:53As part of our inquiry, we interviewed Corbett's widow, Stephanie.
01:04:57On the first occasion, she confirmed Corbett's upbringing in Northern Ireland.
01:05:01Following our interview with DSU Powell, we went back to Mrs Corbett with some specific questions regarding John Corbett's recruitment
01:05:06to Operation Pear Tree.
01:05:08We managed to convince her to cooperate with our inquiry and reveal hitherto undisclosed evidence.
01:05:14Following a lawful search of the family home under Mrs Corbett's guidance, we recovered items concealed by her husband.
01:05:20Among the items was an audio recording of a meeting between John Corbett and Jill Bigelow, which took place in
01:05:25January 2018, a full month before the inception of Operation Pear Tree.
01:05:30Well, if such a recording exists, it's inadmissible.
01:05:34I is correct that if acting on official police business, Corbett would have required authorization from Ripon.
01:05:40Yeah, well, he wasn't acting on official police business, and I can assure you that my legal team and I
01:05:45will move heaven and earth so that this particular recording will be heard in court.
01:05:51Playing recording.
01:05:53The IUC officer who betrayed your mother, his name's Hastings.
01:05:59Superintendent Ted Hastings.
01:06:03What is your super now?
01:06:05No, it's taking a piss.
01:06:07How do you know all this?
01:06:08From a private investigator who's been looking into Hastings' past.
01:06:12It's not in the final chapter of verse.
01:06:15You read it, and then tell me how you feel about my proposal.
01:06:20I mean, tell me now.
01:06:22We're setting up another cover operation to prove he's bent.
01:06:26To finally bring down the man who had your mother killed.
01:06:31That's definitely him. Hastings.
01:06:33Yeah.
01:06:37Jill Bigelow sought incriminating material on Superintendent Hastings,
01:06:41and then used it to manipulate John Corbett into believing Superintendent Hastings is H.
01:06:49Why, Jill?
01:06:59It's complicated.
01:07:00We've got time.
01:07:02Actually, you don't.
01:07:08I'm TFC. Guns down. Standby.
01:07:13Okay, we need to shut this building down right now.
01:07:15Guns down now!
01:07:16Do as he says!
01:07:19TFC, now.
01:07:20Proceed for a minute. Guns down!
01:07:23Hands where we can see them.
01:07:25Hands above your head.
01:07:26Who authorised this?
01:07:27We detected apparent security lapses on entering the building.
01:07:31The SFC authorised us to deploy firearms.
01:07:34All your AFOs are being disarmed as a precaution.
01:07:43This burner phone.
01:07:44It isn't the same burner phone that I've been accused of owning by any chance Tina, is it?
01:07:50Tina number.
01:07:51Oh, double seven. Double zero. Lying double zero. Eight five six.
01:08:01Oh, yeah.
01:08:02There it is.
01:08:04You see, Jill only ever visited me when she came to AC12.
01:08:07That's how you mistook this phone for mine.
01:08:13TFC.
01:08:14Six four. Any ops on ACG?
01:08:16Six four. No contacts yet. Standby.
01:08:21Looks like the cavalry's not coming over the hill.
01:08:23Yeah.
01:08:25The last time Dot Cotton sent that message out,
01:08:27he was busted out in a couple of seconds.
01:08:30Looks like you're not as valuable as him.
01:08:32Or as valuable as you thought you were.
01:08:35As valuable to who, exactly?
01:08:37Well, Jill told me that she was a defence solicitor.
01:08:40You're gonna meet a lot of shady types doing that job.
01:08:42So you get some major piece of work off a serious criminal charge.
01:08:48They put you on a retainer.
01:08:49But these retainers, they come with strings attached, don't they, Jill?
01:08:53But I suspect that she was enticed by the glamour.
01:08:57Why frame the gaffer?
01:08:58It's always more palatable to offer up a rotten apple
01:09:01than to uncover institutionalised corruption.
01:09:05And as AC12 have been a constant thorn in the side of the OCG,
01:09:10what better rotten apple than their commanding officer?
01:09:13Right, Jill?
01:09:17The money in the hotel room.
01:09:20Where did that come from?
01:09:23I bet you asked some of your little criminal mates
01:09:25to slip that through to Moffat, am I right?
01:09:28There's damning DNA evidence against Superintendent Hastings.
01:09:32Hardly damning a couple of hair follicles, come on.
01:09:40Hang on.
01:09:44Don't tell me, was that you were doing, Jill?
01:09:47Don't worry, Ted.
01:09:49I'll spare you blushes in front of everyone.
01:09:54Jill used the bathroom of my hotel room.
01:09:56She must have taken some hairs out of the comb,
01:10:00passed them onto the OCG,
01:10:02and they planted them on Corbett's body.
01:10:06Who killed Corbett?
01:10:09Did you give the order?
01:10:13We all know confessing to conspiracy to murder
01:10:16will make me ineligible for immunity from prosecution.
01:10:22And the institutionalised complicity
01:10:24between organised crime and corrupt police officers?
01:10:28Have you not been listening, love?
01:10:30There's no such thing.
01:10:32I'm just one rotten apple.
01:10:35Well, never mind betraying me, Jill.
01:10:38Never mind framing me.
01:10:39What about John Corbett?
01:10:40I mean, you let him believe that he was chasing the truth.
01:10:45Justice.
01:10:46For his mother.
01:10:47For Christ's sake, for Anne-Marie.
01:10:50But instead he was chasing a lie.
01:10:52You set a hair running, then you sat around
01:10:55as you watched the dogs rip it apart.
01:10:57A tragic, senseless death.
01:11:073764, sit rep.
01:11:0964, still no ups.
01:11:12Received.
01:11:14Mum, it appears we no longer need to defend ourselves
01:11:16against a threat in this building.
01:11:18I suggest we make arrangements
01:11:19to transport Miss Bigelow to custody ASAP.
01:11:22Agreed.
01:11:23I'll take care of that, Mum.
01:11:25Thank you, Tina.
01:11:26Jill, Bigelow, you are under arrest
01:11:28for perverting the course of justice
01:11:29and misconduct in apartment companies.
01:11:34Sir, I'd advise you get out of the building too.
01:11:37Yeah.
01:11:45I'm afraid I'm going to have to cuff you.
01:11:47Could be a track to custody.
01:11:49You might want to do a lube right now.
01:11:52I'm going to have to come with you.
01:11:53Sorry.
01:11:573764.
01:11:5864, receiving.
01:11:59We're sending down DCS Carmichael
01:12:01and the gaffer.
01:12:02We'll keep Jill Bigelow up here
01:12:03until we can provide our score.
01:12:0564, received.
01:12:06Thank you, too.
01:12:08I don't know what to say.
01:12:10You're welcome, sir.
01:12:11Just doing our job.
01:12:14It's a damn sight more than that.
01:12:20Could murder a couple.
01:12:29I don't know what to say.
01:12:31I don't know what to say.
01:12:35No.
01:13:05No!
01:13:09No!
01:13:11Ah!
01:13:15Ah!
01:13:18Ah!
01:13:20Look at me!
01:13:25Alpha Charlie 3-7, request urgent CAS
01:13:27about from AC, 12 for two persons, one low-velocity GSW,
01:13:31one knife wound.
01:13:32Gilly, you all right?
01:13:33Yeah.
01:13:34Steve.
01:13:35Oh, my god.
01:13:37Steve, are you all right?
01:13:39OK.
01:13:40Not for sure, anybody.
01:13:54I think she'll talk.
01:14:05She'll want to make a deal.
01:14:07Too fond of the finer things to do a prison stretch.
01:14:22The OCG didn't think Jill was worth saving.
01:14:25But someone gave the order to stop her talking.
01:14:30Who?
01:15:00What is that?
01:15:05Pass it out of the way.
01:15:09I'll start bagging.
01:15:10Respiratory rest.
01:15:13I'll throw it for my solicitor.
01:15:15And she's advised me to cooperate with your inquiry.
01:15:19But it will depend if there's definitely immunity
01:15:22from prosecution and witness protection.
01:15:26I'm going to help.
01:15:28Maybe I could do something to stop others
01:15:30from making the same mistakes.
01:15:32Immunity from prosecution and witness protection
01:15:34has been agreed.
01:15:36There is one final gap we need to fill in.
01:15:40How did you know that John Clayton was an undercover officer?
01:15:43Do you ask John Corbett?
01:15:46I didn't.
01:15:48Just that he was a rat.
01:15:49How?
01:15:51A leak about the meeting at the Palisades.
01:15:55Could have only come from him.
01:15:57How did that work?
01:15:59John was told the top man wanted to meet at the shopping centre.
01:16:02We had a meeting point on one of the walkways.
01:16:05It was nice and public, so if anyone spotted us,
01:16:08they'd think twice about trying to take us out.
01:16:12No-one else in the unit knew about the meeting,
01:16:14except for me and John.
01:16:17We had one of our blokes work in the shopping centre.
01:16:19And in security?
01:16:20He said he'd seen the coppers waiting to ambush us.
01:16:22So we knew for certain the leak had to come from John.
01:16:26What did Lee Banks reveal to you about John Corbett?
01:16:30Only that there was a rat in the unit.
01:16:33Hastings told Lee Banks about Corbett, I'm sure of it.
01:16:37She's lying to cover herself.
01:16:39She knows if she admits to killing Corbett,
01:16:41she forfeits immunity from prosecution.
01:16:46What does Banks say?
01:16:47He's still not talking.
01:16:50Then without his testimony,
01:16:52you can't prove Hastings-Blue Corbett's cover.
01:16:56It's a dead-end, Patricia. Close the case.
01:16:58Mum, I think if I could...
01:17:00You had a bent officer on your team.
01:17:03Sorry.
01:17:04Glass houses.
01:17:04It's decided that John Corbett...
01:17:07...they agree to that.
01:17:09Oh, yeah.
01:17:11Which OCG members were involved in the murder of John Corbett?
01:17:15A few of them.
01:17:18Not me.
01:17:20They're all dead now.
01:17:22Who inflicted the fatal knife wound
01:17:23that caused John Corbett to bleed to death?
01:17:27He's dead now, too.
01:17:30Miroslav Minkovic.
01:17:33Are there any members of the OCG still at large?
01:17:38Not enough.
01:17:48Where I grew up, it was easy to fall in with the wrong crowd.
01:17:51My mum, she was off her face on drinking drugs a lot of the time.
01:17:56The person who made me see that there was another way
01:17:58to be a useful member of society was a police officer,
01:18:02PC Simon Banerjee.
01:18:04He's the reason why I wanted to become a police officer, too.
01:18:08To help people.
01:18:21Sir.
01:18:22Sir.
01:18:24We've been re-examining Dot's dying declaration.
01:18:27Now, the frame it was frozen on during your interview
01:18:29made me spot something we've all missed.
01:18:32Look at Dot's left hand.
01:18:40Watch again.
01:18:46Right, so his fingers are tapping, so...?
01:18:49Dot was trying to tell us something before he lost consciousness.
01:18:53Now, he couldn't speak due to the gunshot wound to his chest,
01:18:55but he could move his hand.
01:19:00Tap, tap, tap, tap.
01:19:03Tap, tap, tap, tap.
01:19:08Morse code.
01:19:10Dot, dot, dot, dot.
01:19:14The letter H in Morse code is four dots.
01:19:17H is not an initial.
01:19:19It's a clue.
01:19:21Four dots.
01:19:22Four caddies.
01:19:24Four police staff in league with organised crime.
01:19:27Dot.
01:19:28Hilton.
01:19:30Jell.
01:19:32Plus one more.
01:19:35One more.
01:19:36And they're still out there.
01:19:39The deputy chief constable and I are pleased to report
01:19:42Operation Patriotry has completed a thorough investigation
01:19:46into institutionalised complicity between organised criminals
01:19:50and corrupt police officers.
01:19:52Its robust findings couldn't be clearer.
01:19:55There is no institutionalised corruption in this police force.
01:19:59This constabulary will work tirelessly to root out rotten apples in his ranks.
01:20:04So, thank you.
01:20:05Thank you so much.
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