POLICE chiefs have apologised after admitting an undercover officer was involved in an animal welfare protest which resulted in 6,000 mink being released into the New Forest.

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) say an undercover operative infiltrated the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and took part in the release, at a farm near Ringwood in 1998.

The officer, known by her cover name 'Christine Green', was working for its Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) at the time.

But bosses at Scotland Yard failed to tell colleagues at Hampshire Constabulary about their involvement in the incident, which Ringwood residents say caused "mayhem" in the area.

Hampshire Police launched an investigation, but did not make any arrests.

Today, Met chiefs have apologised for their involvement in the incident, admitting the scale of the release was "unforeseen".

They have also apologised to Hampshire Constabulary, for failing to inform them of the force's role in the incident.

Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball, in charge of Professionalism in the MPS, said: "The MPS has apologised to Hampshire Constabulary for the impact these decisions had on their ability to bring those responsible to justice.

"It appears that the SDS allowed this incident to go ahead, as they saw it, in the interests of preventing more serious crime in the longer term.

"The scale of the release was unforeseen by the SDS at the time, but once the impact became clear they still did not inform Hampshire Constabulary of the officer's involvement.

"It is not possible to say what direct impact the role of Christine Green's involvement had or if different policing decisions could have averted the damage.

"I do understand that this decision making from 20 years ago will cause significant concern to the public, especially those people directly affected by the events in 1998.

"The MPS will be honest about our past and accept criticism where it is due."

Ms Ball added that the decision making surrounding the incident would "simply not happen" in the Metropolitan Police Service today.

She added that the decision to authorise an undercover officer to participate in this criminal act would be "fully explored" as part of a public inquiry.

Responding to the apology, Hampshire Constabulary's Chief Superintendent, Darren O’Callaghan, said: “We welcome the apology from the Metropolitan Police and the acknowledgement that we were unaware of any of these practices taking place in our force area.

“In 2014, Hampshire Constabulary was made aware of the involvement of an undercover Metropolitan Police Special Demonstration Squad officer using now discredited tactics during the incident at Crow Hill Farm.

"On the basis of this information, we conducted a full review of our original investigation.

"However, due to the length of time that had passed, the lack of tangible evidence and no suspects being identified, in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, it was agreed that there was no realistic chance of prosecution.

"Prior to this disclosure, Hampshire Constabulary was unaware of the presence of the officer during this crime, or the tactics being employed by the Metropolitan Police.

“Once this new information became known and in the interests of openness and transparency, Hampshire Constabulary sought permission to inform the affected parties in this case, however we were notified that the crime and the tactics used were subject to the Undercover Policing Inquiry and therefore bound by the confidentiality of this legal process.

“We continue to fully co-operate with the inquiry.”

Up to 6,000 mink were released during the protest in 1998, which took place at Crow Hill fur farm, near Ringwood.

The Animal Liberation Front, who still exist today, claimed they were behind the incident, according to media reports at the time.

The group said it conducted the release, because the then-Labour government had not fulfilled a pre-election pledge to ban fur farming.

It was later banned under the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act 2000.

According to media reports at the time, around 2,000 minks were rounded up, while another 2,000 were thought to have been run over or shot.