A whistleblower has revealed that the Indian police had helped the Scotland Yard illegally spy on activists, reported the BBC. Email accounts of campaigners were hacked into and the information about the passwords were then passed on to the Metropolitan Police who then regularly accessed the accounts of the victims without legal permission, the unidentified person claimed in a letter. The agency has also been accused of shredding documents to destroy evidence. The spying reportedly continued till as late as 2016.

The allegations are being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. “We have begun an independent investigation related to anonymous allegations concerning the accessing of personal data,” an IPCC spokesperson said. “We are still assessing the scope of the investigation and so we are not able to comment further.” They have also urged the whistleblower to come forward and help with the probe.

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Scotland Yard called the allegations “deeply disturbing”. “All possible steps are being taken to ensure that all relevant material and associated computer systems are preserved to assist the IPCC’s investigation,” said the spokesman. “Whilst at this stage the allegations have not been thoroughly investigated, they are deeply troubling and the MPS will provide the IPCC with its fullest possible support.”

Though the letter about the allegations does not disclose the whistleblower’s identity, it contains names of 10 activists along with the passwords to their email accounts to bolster the claims. Six of them have confirmed that the passwords were either correct or close. Four of the activists work with Greenpeace. “When I was told I was on this list I was at first surprised, then angry and then felt violated,” said Colin Newman, a Greenpeace campaigner whose name was on the list. “I trust the police. But some of my emails were very private - they include details of counselling. I have had sleepless nights.”