White, Barbara

Barbara White was convicted in April 1978 at Barking Magistrates’ Court of of obstructing police and assaulting an officer. She received a total fine of £75.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in October 2023.

In September 1977, as a member of the Communist Party of England (CPE), Ms White took part in a march opposing a demonstration by the National Front in Barking, East London. During this, there was a confrontation which led to eight people being arrested.  

One of the eight arrested was an undercover police officer, who stood trial in the name of “Desmond Barry Loader”.

At the time of trial, evidence suggested the court was made aware there was an informant among the defendants, but it did not suggest that the prosecutors or the court were made aware that one of the defendants was an undercover police officer. 

After a thorough review and an investigation looking into undercover police officers by the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI), the CCRC concluded that there was a real possibility Ms White’s conviction would be overturned by the Crown Court as an abuse of process. 

The CCRC referred the conviction in May 2024.

The appeal was later abandoned.