Shocked by the extent of corruption within its ranks, Scotland Yard set up a new anti-corruption unit in the early 1990s. Its members had to operate in conditions of unprecedented secrecy and they became known as the 'Ghost Squad'.Bent Coppers really did believe they were untouchable: they stole cash and property, fitted-up innocent people and sold secret information to cripple court cases. Many of the bent coppers are now in jail or awaiting trial but the battle against corruption is not over.only now can the story of the 'Ghost Squad' be revealed. Award-winning BBC home affairs correspondent Graeme McLagan had followed the investigation since the beginning. He has interviewed undercover officers and many of the bent coppers they have exposed. this is the inside story of the 'Ghost Squad' and how it broke into the secret world of police corruption.
In a landmark ruling in the law of libel, the Court of Appeal has unanimously ruled that journalist Graeme McLagan acted responsibly when he researched and wrote his book Bent Coppers: The inside story of Scotland Yard's battle against police corruption.
Ex‑police officer Michael Charman claimed that the book libelled him by suggesting that there were “cogent grounds” of suspecting him of being involved in corruption. The Court found that award-winning BBC Home Affairs correspondent Graeme McLagan had taken steps to verify the story and that as a result of his honesty, his expertise on the subject, his careful research and his painstaking evaluation of a mass of material, the book was protected by “Reynolds” qualified privilege.
Sir John Stevens, former Metropolitan Police Commissioner has said “This is a story that deserves to be told warts aand all”. Orion reissued Bent Copppers on the 24th October 2007.