article_snippet.sent: Classified documents obtained by The Mail on Sunday under Freedom of Information laws show that the Government sent Metropolitan Police officers to Wales in the lead-up to his investiture ceremony to join the fight against extremists who had already set off a series of bombs.
article_snippet.sent: The files show Wilson’s government approved plans to send officers from the Met to Wales to run a secret unit that would spy on the extremists.
article_snippet.sent: The files do not include any details about the methods employed by the officers, but there are several references to ‘intelligence gathering’ and the ‘dissemination of information’.
article_snippet.sent: On August 8, 1968, the Home Office wrote to all Chief Constables in Wales informing all Chief Constables in Wales of the new police unit that would be headed by two senior the Met officers.
article_snippet.sent: The letter stated: ‘The Home Secretary thinks The letter necessary to adopt exceptional means of keeping The Home Secretary informed about the criminal activities of extremists in Wales and the action being taken to deal with all Chief Constables in Wales.
article_snippet.sent: The letter added: ‘Officers from Scotland Yard will have the particular assistance of an intelligence unit which will be created from (and detached from) the regional crime squad.
highlights_snippet.sent: Metropolitan police were sent to Wales to join the fight against extremists .