For more than 30 years, a minimum of 25 undercover officers in the UK formed romantic relationships with women without disclosing their true identities.

These officers, assigned to infiltrate political organizations, developed connections that, in some instances, lasted for several years.

Four of these officers fathered or are believed to have fathered children during their undercover work.

One prominent case is that of Bob Lambert, who, while operating undercover from 1984 to 1989, had a child with a woman named Jacqui.

Lambert vanished when their son was just two years old, stating that he was escaping from the police.

Jacqui uncovered his real identity more than 20 years later, which caused her considerable emotional turmoil.

Another case involves Mark Kennedy, who, under the pseudonym Mark Stone, infiltrated environmental groups from 2003 to 2010. Throughout his deployment, Kennedy was involved in several intimate relationships with activists, resulting in legal actions and public backlash.

These disclosures prompted public apologies from the Metropolitan Police Service.

In 2015, the force admitted that the relationships constituted a breach of the women's human rights and provided financial settlements to multiple individuals affected by these actions.

In light of the scandal, a public inquiry, known as the Undercover Policing Inquiry, was launched in 2015 to investigate the behavior of undercover officers and the repercussions of their actions on those impacted.

A new documentary series, 'The Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed,' is scheduled to premiere on ITV1 and ITVX.

The series highlights five women who were misled into relationships with undercover officers, showcasing their pursuit of truth and justice.

The ongoing inquiry continues to explore the scope of these covert operations and their ramifications, illuminating the practices within the police force during that time.