Political activists believe a controversial undercover police unit infiltrated protest groups in Sussex.

A member of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit is said to have taken part in a Smash EDO demonstration in central Brighton as recently as 2009.

A member of Sussex Police Authority – the body which oversees the running of Sussex Police – is calling for the public to be told if covert operations have taken place against protest groups in the county.

An officer named in the press as Marco Jacobs is said to have operated in Brighton.

He is said to lived near Elm Grove and to have been a regular at the Cowley Club in London Road from late 2004.

Police yesterday declined to comment.

For full report, see today's Argus.