it to the Police. This act would set in train a series of events that few could have foreseen. The authorities were tipped off and Suzy was in for a rocky ride as her emails and phone calls were intercepted and her home was bugged.
Unaware that she was now ‘under surveillance’ by the Police, Suzy Austen carried on her volunteer work with Exit: holding meetings and talking to members on the phone and by email. All the while Police were gathering evidence that they would later use in court against her.
What Suzy did not know - and perhaps what no one could have imagined - was that the Police had launched an undercover investigation called ‘Operation Painter’. This covert operation achieved legend status when it mounted a fake alcohol check point - not to test for drink driving - but to gather the names and addresses of the Exit members attending a Sunday lunch at Suzy Austen’s home. See: http://bit.ly/OpPainter
Suzy Austen speaking outside court after her acquittal