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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Rob Evans

How the Met police spent £2.5m hiding spycop from former partner

Helen Steel John Dines Police Scotland Yard New Zealand Sir Keir Starmer
Steel and Dines sit together on a sandy beach with turquoise water and islands behind them
Helen Steel with John Dines, who started a two-year relationship with her in 1990 before disappearing. Photograph: Courtesy of Helen Steel

At 2pm on 14 December 2002, Helen Steel, a well-known leftwing campaigner, and her parents landed at Auckland airport for a family holiday. It had been a tiring journey, so they were irritated when they were delayed leaving the airport for an hour.

What they did not know until recently is the reason for that delay. Their arrival had triggered a secret warning on Steel that had been put in place by police three weeks earlier. It prompted customs to carry out a discreet search of her luggage.

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