The Guardian gets it's knickers in a twist again

[Flosshilde]

If they retract 'spies'.

!

The Meriam-Webster definition of 'spy' -

Noun: one that spies: a : one who keeps secret watch on a person or thing to obtain information

transitive verb
1: to watch secretly usually for hostile purposes
2: to catch sight of : see
3: to search or look for intensively —usually used with out <spy out places fit for vending … goods — S. E. Morison>
intransitive verb
1: to observe or search for something : look
2: to watch secretly as a spy


I think that sums up reasonably what the undercover police were doing.

[french frank]

I think 'spy' has become the media shorthand that has caught on - e.g. the BBC and Mail. In some circumstances it's handier than 'undercover police officer', certainly for captions and headlines.