Last week’s horrifying terrorist attacks in Paris have rightly appalled the world. The rallies in Paris and cities around the world, and the publication of a new edition of Charlie Hebdo yesterday, have demonstrated clearly that the attacks were not only barbaric but also a failure: we will not be intimidated into giving up our hard-won freedoms.

Usually when we hear about an MP being up in court, it’s not good news for them.

But I had worked to secure my day in court next month, in my efforts to force the Metropolitan Police to reveal the ages of the deceased children whose identities had been stolen by undercover officers.

It began with a Freedom of Information request I made in early 2013, after a local resident asked for my help in finding out whether his dead daughter’s identity was among those used by the Special Demonstration Squad.

After repeatedly refusing to disclose the ages for almost two years, despite being ordered to by the Information Commissioner, the Met finally gave in last month, but only after a date had been set for our court hearing and I had tabled a question to the Home Secretary.

The information we secured – that undercover officers used identities of children who had died aged 0, 1, ages four through to 14, 16 and 17 – is a shocking revelation.

However, it can at least provide some reassurance to those families who now know that their children were not among them, my constituent included.

His family had been through enough already; they needn’t have made it so difficult for him. I’m glad I was able to help my constituent in this way, but I believe more needs to be done by the police to reassure other concerned families who are still left wondering whether their dead children’s identities have been used. That begins with dropping the instinct for secrecy that characterised their response to my modest request.

In the House of Commons last Monday, I raised this with the Home Secretary and asked what confidence we can have that police attitudes have changed, given the Met’s feet-dragging over disclosing even the most basic information.

My next constituency surgeries will be at my office in Avonbridge House, Chippenham, today (Thursday) from 11.30am to 1pm; and at Melksham Town Hall on Friday, January 23, from 4pm to 5.30pm.