Policing a democracy
The news that Damian Green, the Conservative immigration spokesman, investigating has astonished just about every commentator across Britain's political spectrum. Mr Green was later released on bail, without charge. But this episode raises questions that go to the heart of a fully-functioning democracy. As Diane Abbot put it on This Week, "civil servants have been leaking since photocopiers were invented". So why has an MP been arrested for receiving documents from a whistleblower?
If a document relating to national security is leaked -- to the extent that its release could endanger the lives of British personnel -- one could understand why police counter-terrorism officers would take an interest. But the police say Mr Green was held on suspicion of "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office" and "aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office". Neither of these grounds for investigation appear to suggest any breach of national security, but as this story unfolds perhaps we will learn more than we currently know.
The Met say no political influence was brought to bear on their investigation and that they made the arrest without the approval or knowledge of any government minister. This unprecedented intrusion by the police into the activities of a member of parliament is now, quite rightly, the subject of enormous public scrutiny.
Comment number 1.
At 28th Nov 2008, Michael wrote:Wow - surely this blog should be on the front news page but I had big problems finding it at all.
I would hope that every ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ journalist with any integrity would be posting lists of all the times they have seen similar confidential information and then marching down to Scotland Yard and demanding to be arrested.
Also of interest that it happened when the news agenda was being dominated by another story, that the MPS claim to have done it without any political cover and that allegedly no one in the Govt was told before hand even though Boris Johnston was?!
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Comment number 2.
At 28th Nov 2008, PutMeInCharge wrote:A ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ journo who hasn't been gotten to by Mandleson...I'm impressed!
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Comment number 3.
At 28th Nov 2008, DisgustedDorothy wrote:William Crawley ,how good to meet you!
I was ready to unplug the Biased Broadcasting Corporation I may now hang on for a little longer.
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Comment number 4.
At 28th Nov 2008, John Wright wrote:LOL!!!!!
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Comment number 5.
At 29th Nov 2008, Orville Eastland wrote:This is a very surprising and upsetting story. Apparently Brown has taken a page from Bush (See the US Attorney firing scandal- though to their credit, many attorneys refused to heed the calls for politicization of their offices.)
The Tories, Lib Dems and Old Labour are up in arms over this. I encourage them all to unite and force Brown out of office. (He can be impeached...) Show the World that politicians and whistleblowers still have rights in Britain... And perhaps we can learn something over here...
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Comment number 6.
At 29th Nov 2008, U11831742 wrote:Orvillethird ... Gordon Brown knew nothing about this. The Police have operational independence. Not even the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ secretary was informed in advance that this arrest was about to be made. There's no need to raise impeachment charges against Brown when the evidence is to the contrary.
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Comment number 7.
At 29th Nov 2008, spartans11 wrote:#6 ROFL
How naive of you to believe that, do you really think the police can search an MPs office without someone knowing first, they're just not that stupid, they even require autorisation to search any member of the publics home and office.
The Speaker of the House of Commons MUST give permission for this action to proceed, maybe Gorbals Mick was unable to tell any of his good pals, Brown, Smith, Straw etc because he lost his mobile charger or maybe they already knew and told him to allow it. To implement an operation of this scale and importance requires planning and PRIOR authorisation.
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Comment number 8.
At 4th Dec 2008, U11831742 wrote:spartans11 you may wish to eat your words after the speaker's statement in parliament yesterday. The police had no warrant for the search and new rules are being introduced to make sure this can't happen again.
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