Boom Box: the story of undercover police who set up a fake music studio in London Operation Peyzac involved undercover police setting up a fake recording studio, Boombox, on a north London estate to gather intelligence on gang crime, drugs, and firearms. The operation led to 37 convictions, but now a documentary has resurfaced criticisms that officers used unethical tactics, such as exploiting vulnerable individuals’ financial and family issues, to pressure them into criminality. Defense attorneys argued entrapment, but the judge allowed the case to proceed, leading many defendants to plead guilty.

• Operation Peyzac, an undercover police operation, used a fake recording studio called Boombox in north London to gather intelligence.
• The operation resulted in 37 people being jailed for gang crime, drugs, and firearms offences.
• A new documentary, ‘Boom Box: Beats and Betrayal,’ has brought renewed attention to the operation’s tactics.
• Critics, including some convicted individuals and human rights campaigners, allege officers used grooming and entrapment tactics.
• Former officers and the Metropolitan police defend the operation, stating it prevented violence and disrupted criminality.
• Allegations include officers exploiting personal vulnerabilities and pressuring individuals to acquire firearms and drugs.
• Defence lawyers’ claims of entrapment were rejected in court, and many defendants pleaded guilty.
• There are calls for the operation to be examined by the UK’s ongoing spycops inquiry.
• Concerns are raised that recent legislation may allow undercover officers to engage in more extensive tactics.