UPDATED: Damian Green - arrested under the most sinister law in Britain?

SEE UPDATE AT END

So to the Damian Green arrest, which police say was made on suspicion he was "aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office". Looking back at the handful of prosecutions this statute has brought about, stories about the police's use of this offence make frightening reading.

First what I presume it's intended to do: to prosecute police officers who use the police national database to get revenge on ex-lovers, or trading standards officers who try and fiddle the system themselves.

But there are more pernicious examples out there too.

Perhaps the scariest is the case of Sally Murrer, a reporter of 33 years' standing who was arrested last year and later charged using this law. She is expected to stand trial in January. The trial collapsed today

The Crown Prosecution Service alleges that a police contact tipped her off about three stories:  that a local celebrity footballer arrested in a brawl would not be charged, that a man killed in a fight had previously been arrested on drug offences and an Islamist the authorities released early from prison  had boasted about becoming a suicide bomber. The third tip, potentially the most serious, never even made the paper.

By this scorehand Ms Murrer is hardy an enemy of the state. Yet here, according to an excellent account by Nick Cohen, is what the police did to collect evidence in their case.

The security services planned the arrest of the journalist with painstaking care. They bugged her contacts and assembled an elite squad to take her down. On 8 May 2007, eight detectives swarmed into her home and seized her address book, mobile, laptops and bank statements. In a simultaneous raid, a second team searched her newspaper office - going through everything from filing cabinets to boxes of Cup-a-Soup by the office kettle.

Police aren't alleging that she paid her contact for the stories, just that he gave her more information than he was contractually allowed to. I commend the Cohen piece, which goes into what is more broadly a very complex case and hints at the bigger reasons why the CPS may be pursuing the prosecution.

But it's clear from that if this law was rigidly applied most of the journalists, and several of the politicians, special advisers and press officers I know would be in jail. And from my brief reading about the case it seems to strike a worrying blow for the public's right to know more than politicians and public sector bosses want them to.

There can be no doubt that tonight the police decision to arrest a shadow cabinet member was political with a very big P.

UPDATE: With uncanny timing, the Murrer case has collapsed. Full details here. The judge ruled that police surveillance and search operations mounted to identify the reporter's sources were a violation of human rights. This suggests any prosecution could be even harder to bring.

Comments

[john b]

Hmm. You seem to be relying on Nick Cohen as a trustworthy source here; that's up there with seeking psephological advice from a tree monkey, surely?

[tris]

Had I read a description like that above, taken out of context, I would have imagined Congo or China perhaps. It woudn't have occured to me that this was happening in a Western European state.

The motto seems to be "don't cross Brown".

He's in such a mess that he can't have the opposition finding out the truth can he? What else is he hiding, and how scared should we be?

Well done to this paper and Sam Coates for highlighting this.

Now let's get this kind of nonsense stopped.

[Richard]

The British Government and everybody in it is beneath contempt.

[Prestonian]

Walter Wolfgang, Iceland and Damian Green - anti-terrorist laws used against them. We were warned. Can anyone now doubt the nature of this government?

[mike rigby]

This should frighten all of us who believed in the Justice system in this country.
We are not on the way to a police state, we are in one.

[Liam Ronan]

Don't blame me! I didn't vote for Brown. But then again....

[richard]

NuLabour = Kontrol, Kontrol, Kontrol.

All of this is predictable and has been from the first time an anti-terrorism law we were promised would only be used for serious terrorist offences was used for political convenience. They lie, they spin, and they destroy what they cannot control. I'm delighted Damien Green was arrested - perhaps it will anger Cameron enough to display some real opposition to the civil rights fire sale..

[Christopher]

Such a blatant abuse of power that it makes your head spin... We were warned indeed...

[PPP]

I had a similar search done to me on Bank Holiday weekend by a firm I had taken to an employment tribunal. Then the court ordered me to a 4 month suspended jail sentence when I objected to what was going on. Neo-fascism.

[Ross]

This is genuinely scary. I hope that every news source in the country shines a very big light on this hitherto hidden fascist regime and stops it dead, otherwise England could be the next Nazi state. I'm glad I never once voted for this sham of a government, and Brown must produce answers. Now.

[Jim]

Can't wait to see how the Guardian justify it. Still Cameron et al didn't do a whole lot to defend our rights as these laws were passed. Will the British people even protest on the streets? I remember doing that when i was younger, I can't see it happening today though.

[LT]

I fear that this is national socialism. We have convinced ourselves such a scenario could never happen in Britain with our history of stability and democracy, but this is a truly sinister development. Brown and the scoundrels that support him should be held to account. If they get away with this who will be next? Maybe the General Election will be postponed indefinitely whilst comrade Brown introduces even more repression.

[Alexander]

As Britains self perceived place in the world fades, so to "the powers that be" will become more draconian it their approach to retain the trappings of power. A breif glance at the legislation on the statue books will show that the USSR & 1930's Germany were brutal novices when it came to the "legal" controlling the lives of it's population. The country that gave the world Parliamentary Democracy have honed a far more effective system for that purpose. All to the acquiesence of an apathetic and largely ignorant population. 1984 is in place. Mourn the passing of Great Britain. and the vain sacrifices of the WWI & WWII men and women.

[Michael Jamieson]

This is the stuff of Third World dictatorships and utterly terrifying in Britain. It is quite clear - despite Brown's denials - that this is a politically motivated arrest intended to intimidate the opposition. I hope the media jump all over this story and don't let the matter rest. Our very democracy is under attack from this evil government.

[Guy Higby]

We have to ask whether Damian Green's actions were likely to harm anyone. Surely we have laws in this country to protect the weak. Were the actions of the police here designed to do that? I hope so.

[terry sullivan]

you/who voted for them?

police state--remember tony bliars response when an mp said this in parliament?

wheres the opposition--perhaps this will wake cameron up--but i wont hold my breath

[percy]

I think people are very brave to post comments on this blog. Don't be surprised if the Brown Police knock on your doors with a sledgehammer at 0400.

[tony]

A STEP TOO FAR.

[Kerry O'Donoghue]

I'm a whistle blower and I have documents which prove the involvement of certain lawyers and their assisting of Islamic Extremist activities.

I am a British Citizen and I have been told in writing by Harry Carberry of the UK Embassy in Dublin that I am involved in a 'Campaign against the British Establishment' which is an offence under the terrorism act. I my children and a colleague are Jew's who want to make Aliyah but the British Government is activly stoping us. They would not dare stop a Muslim wanting to leave the UK but they will stop Jew's.

Is the British Government now starting to stoping people leaving the UK because the government doesn't like what they say?

[Steve Ferris]

England is finished, Labour won. Don't like it, leave.

[Rikki Tikki-Tavi]

I heard about Damian Green's arrest on Question Time last night, presumably as did the PM and Home Secretary. How totally ridiculous this whole thing is. This man is simply doing his job; if in the process he serves to embarrass the government then so be it. The electorate has the right to an open government. This is not a selective openness, it is openness showing warts and all and if this administration has not the honesty to treat us with respect, but chooses contempt and cynicism instead, then quite simply we're not being well served. I'm delighted that we have politicians like Mr Green but disgusted that we have others who precipitate this nonsense.

[tony]

BBC coverage of this story?........NIL

[Nigel Williams]

This must get banner headlines in all papers, enough is enough, bring these lackies in blue to heel. WE pay then to serve US, not an unelected Primeminister.

[tony c]

"aiding and abetting, or procurring misconduct in a public office"

Sounds like an indictment of the current ZanuLabour government to me.
Can we look forward to Brown and Co being charged...............?

[tony]

What next?....Concentration camps..............
"We Will Ask The Questions"
History repeating itself !
Remember the treatment they doled out to the OAP at the Conference..start worrying.
He was a labour voter!
My Grandfather fought in TWO world wars to ensure freedom of speech...He will be turning in his grave with ALL the others who died for it....NO MORE LIES AND SPIN.

[Richard Prior]

A velvet (or bloody) revolution is required to remove this left wing government that has intentionly destroyed the essence of the British Parliament.

A British MP being arrested for statements that the sitting government doesn't approve.

If it was my decision - it would be off to Guantanemo Bay for George Brown and his cohorts

[Colin MacMillan]

One of my iconic memories of Labour in opposition is of Robin Cooke time after time embarrassing the Conservative Government with leaks, rumours and spin, fed by leaks. We ended up with better and more transparent government as a result of it. Similarly, now we have better government both because of leaks and because of the fear of leaks.

This is the most appaling act of repression that this government have, as yet, undertaken and they have already hit some very low points. God help us all because the government won't!!

Daily we are seeing signs displayed that this lot have been in power for too long, that they are over tired and not thinking properly, that they have run out of energy and ideas and that the bunker mentality is alive and well and living the heart of the Labour Party.

Come on Gordon give us a chance to vote. No more dithering just call the election and let the people speak.

[chell]

Oh for goodness sake, the Labour Gov has gone too far now. Time for the general election 'NOW' ,these people will bring a complete collapse of our society if they are allowed to continue in office. This so embarrassing now this goverment needs put out to grass

[chell]

Oh for goodness sake, the Labour Gov has gone too far now. Time for the general election 'NOW' ,these people will bring a complete collapse of our society if they are allowed to continue in office. This so embarrassing now this goverment needs put out to grass

[Ian]

We have already seen the police abuse their counter-terrorism powers when they stopped the elderly protestor from re-entering the Labour Part conference. Now this.

If the ID card is imposed on us the police, and what now appear to be their political masters, will have complete control.

[Ian]

We have already seen the police abuse their counter-terrorism powers when they stopped the elderly protestor from re-entering the Labour Part conference. Now this.

If the ID card is imposed on us the police, and what now appear to be their political masters, will have complete control.

[Alex]

Mandleson and Campbell dabs all over this.

[emily]

The job of the police is supposed to be about protecting people from criminals, including those in government. Not to be harrassing and arresting people who expose them on behalf of the criminals, as is the case here!

The police have become the protectors and enforcers of state power and special interests, therefore enemies of the people.

These Stalinist tactics are used to subdue dissent, it is not new, only now are the coming for the politicians. Who will be next?

Journalists have a responsibility to speak out before it is too late. Otherwise you condemn your children and grandchildren to a worse fate for speaking the truth than they have the power to scare you with today.

Wake up, or be damned for what you supported, contributed to or for what you did not do.

[Joe]

Why are UK MPs not protected by political immunity? That is what a democratic country must do in order to assure the functioning of the system. Try to detain a German MP. If it is not murder witnessed by the media, no MP will be detained for any reason. Nor should they. Britain's method for keeping (whatever they mean by it) establishment in place is setting up false laws "to protect the people" and then exploiting these laws to do the opposite while breaking other laws at the same time.

Anti-terrorism laws I hear you. Going to be used against bancrupt states? "No, only against terrorsists, of course."
42-day detention to be used on journalists or university students investigating? "No, only on terrorists, of course"...

Sounds to me that the definition of what a terrorist is somewhat broad i.e. anyone really as long as they piss the right people off.
So glad not to be on British turf for a while. Let's rid ourselves of our leaders for good.

[JuliaM]

"There can be no doubt that tonight the police decision to arrest a shadow cabinet member was political with a very big P."

And yet, Sir Ian Blair is allowed to whine pathetically all over the airwaves that 'politicians are getting too involved in police business' with no-one pointing out his utter hypocrisy.

Don't we have journalism in this country anymore? It certainly seems that we soon won't have democracy...

[Stop_Common_Purpose]

Common Purpose Fabians of the Yard doing the politicians’ bidding:

http://www.stopcp.com/cppolice.php

[Andrew]

We are living under a dictatorship, but it's the fault of the population letting things get so far.
The populace wants more slops and swill to roll around in so they vote the pigs into power. We have been living under censorship and had our freedom cut in this country for many years now; all you can say is "oh, how nice" about the latest range of rubbish in Sainsbury's, or "oh, we're going to Thailand for our summer holiday this Christmas, what about you?" The liberty and freedom of speech we once had was traded in for the ability to get up to the ears in debt over a semi-detached and a 4x4.
Furthermore, these anti-terrorism laws are a hipocrisy, when after 57 people died in London this country dropped its trousers to the muderers.
Our dignity must be kept above all.
This won't end until we all wake up, that is unless we are awake but have no balls.
Come on Britons!

[weejam]

So, Mandy sent out the Brownshirts. Terrifying.

[A.M.Williams]

Yesterday was Sir Ian Blair's last day at the Met! So, of course,today he is no longer a serving officer and cannot, therefore, be called to give evidence should an enquiry be held.

[Eric the Fish]

This is a serious question.
Under what circumstances and with what prior steps, could a sitting British government cancel or defer a general election?

[Noddy]

And we are all worried about the " Fascists " (?) in the BNP ?

[Colin Campbell]

Many Times readers gloated when the BNP membership list was leaked, and also when 13 BNP activists were arrested in Liverpool and held for many hours before being released without charge. We are living in dangerous times when any opposition to ZANU Labour is met with the heavy hand of the state.

[Pagar]

But look at the response from Cameron.

"I'm not very happy"

He should be declaring Civil war!!!

[Peter]

This is a frightening development indeed and proof positive of the politicised and corrupt leadership of our police. When the Conservatives eventually take power they must purge the Force of all the traitorous elements in the police who dedicate their subversive energies to destroying freedom and democracy in this country. They should start with the ACPO and, for good measure, the CPS.

[Steve S - London]

I wonder if they took a DNA sample from the unfortunate Mr Green - the police have the right to do that even if no charges were made. We really have given away too many of our rights in the name of anti-terrorism. Labour may abuse their power now, but the next lot in power will do the same now these laws are in place. No doubt in the near future any comments Iike this will be recorded somewhere on a goverment database!

[Barrie Redfern]

I have now read all the articles referred to here and am totally horrified, though these revelations do not come as a shock. Britain has been a police state for a few years now, each time something like this happens being simply a further strengthening of the system. There needs to be security but nowadays UK citizens have about as much freedom from police intrusion as did those of the former iron curtain countries. The grip is tightening but it seems few realise exactly what is happening - or are prepared to voice their concerns. In the name of freedom and democracy thank goodness for journalists and MPs like these.

[Mike]

Unless there is a lot more to this than seems the case at the moment then we should all be very very worried. Where would we be after another five years if we are already at the stage where elected representatives can be arrested in such manner?

[Andrew]

If Damian Green were a Muslim they wouldn't have arrested him. If he were a member of Al Qaeda then they would have put him up in a posh London house and given him all the benefits under the sun, or cresent.

[Keith Darby]

Poliical arrests (Damien Green), the show trials of dissidents (Nick Griffin), CCTV everywhere, the abolition of freedom of speech, habeas corpus under threat, the blatant politicisation of the police, plans to spy on all e-mail, text messages, web usage, etc. Orwell's 1984 dystopia is here. New Labour should change teir name to IngSoc. Or maybe to SED.

[Baldintheheid]

You break the law, but because you are a Tory Politician you believe it is not fair, and a conspiracy.
Is it possible they believe they are above the law?
Given their track record prior to 1997, and their attitude to expenses recently it would appear they think so.
Pre 1997 we had the same leak enquiries and civil servants were prosecuted.

[Thomas Fuller]

I used to think that those (such as the BNP) raving about Common Purpose were swivel-eyed conspiracy theorists, the same nutters who support David Icke and his belief that the world is being run by extraterrestrial lizards.

Then I looked into CP, visited its creepy Web site, read various critiques, watched the video of a seminal talk by Brian Gerrish, and started to make up my own mind. I urge you to do the same.

We are heading for a police state. Indeed, judging by the arrest of Mr Green, we are already there.

[Clive Dudley]

This is a total misuse of police resources. In disgust, I have just joined the Tory Party! Time to stand up people and say no more.

Gordon Brown, in the words of Oliver Cromwell, "In God's name go!".

[Ken]

Colin MacMillan @08:09:34
Asking dictator Brown to call a general election is like asking turkeys to celebrate Christmas. Anyone care to list all the anti- democratic legislation introduced by the national socialist misgovernment since 1997? Dictator Brown invoked anti terrorist legislation against Iceland for heavens sake. Mr Hitler also helped his nation sleepwalk into fascism, remember?

[John Ball]

Brown has now brought Britain down to the level of the despotic regimes usually found in Africa or the old eastern block.

Leave whilst you still can.

[Rod Jones]

I thought I was beyond being shocked by New Labour, but this demonstrates clearly what happens when a group of former Communists, Trotskyists and their fellow travellers run the government. Vote Labour for economic ruin and a police state - the usual socialist wet-dream. God help us all.

[david reardon]

This is Disgusting with a big D. If BROWN and his media friends had their way we would find out nothing, everything would be wonderful HA HA. Cant the media friends understand that labour have failed and have u turns everywhere over the last 10years, please just except it and support the truth for the sake of the country. They have failed but still want to hide it from us, and WILL DO ANYTHING.

[Gus Swan]

I suggest we all assemble now at Heathrow terminal 5 and cause such chaos Brown will have to resign. What, it's already in chaos...?

[Andy]

O Rose, thou art sick!
The flabby-faced worm
That idolises Stalin,
And sucks up to Mahoma

Has found out thy foundations
Of freedom and liberty:
And his lack of talent and valour for living
Does thy life destroy.

[Robert]

"Still Cameron et al didn't do a whole lot to defend our rights as these laws were passed. "

I think it's a bit rich to blame Cameron for failing to oppose a law developed by judges five hundred years before he was born.

[RN Walker]

If anyone doubts that we're now living in a police state, here's your proof. After Thatcher I didn't think it was possible for a British government to be any more illiberal, but Labour proved me wrong.

[Citizen X]

It was surely inevitable that this government would eventually use its "anti-terrorist" apparatus against its political opponents.

What bets on the "postponement" of the next general election.... in the national interest, of course

[Bernard Keeffe]

The Minister for Immigration has just said on the BBC that the arrest was instigated by Home Office officials.

Can we believe that these officials, without telling the Home Secretary, are empowered to order the arrest of an opposition MP.

[Richard]

Surprised?
A Stalinist Government who rides roughshod over your civil liberties and who has politicised the police and you are surprised at Mugabe style opposition intimidation?
Beatings are not happening yet but for how long?

[Richard]

Surprised?
A Stalinist Government who rides roughshod over your civil liberties and who has politicised the police and you are surprised at Mugabe style opposition intimidation?
Beatings are not happening yet but for how long?

[worried]

I can not believe we have come to this does any one actually know haw many police Officers are now assigned to anti terrorist duties? It started with 80 year olds being arrested for heckling the Dark Lord and now opposition MPs being arrested for publicising information the goverment does not think we should know in our own interest. The 70s and 80s saw a far greater terrorist threat from the IRA but we seemed to survive without this opressive act. How long before this comment is judged against the national intrest?

[Simon]

Does anyone seriously believe it is possible for an arrest to follow from a compliant made by the Cabinet Office without members of the cabinet being aware of that complaint? This is the line being jointly spun by both the police and the government. It is of course rubbish and simply demonstrates how dishonest ministers have become, and how politicised the police have become after 11 years of Labour rule.
This whole episode is an total affront to democracy.
Abuse of power, abuse of the law, politicised police force, arrest and persecution of opposition members, government cover ups and lies, senior police officers who are little more than government lackeys. Mugabe's Zimbabwe? Putin's Russia? No it's Labour's Britain in 2008.

[Andrew]

So much for our hard-won democracy ... as observed, without context this could be reporting from one of those much derided police states, right or left. Of course one wonders (a) how much else is govenrment "sensitive" about keeing out of debate and (b), if those receiving leaks during the banking crisis and preceding the budget will be arrested.
PS Consistently, should all commentators expect their email address,etc, to be sucked out of the aether into GCHQ, "just in case".

[Ash]

That law is designed to keep important failings that perhaps should be brought to light from being brought to light.

That reporter did nothing wrong - she just received and reported on information. That's her job, for Pete's sake! Same probably goes for this Damian Green. He's the MP for Ashford - he probably has little (if any) direct access to the sensitive documents the Home Office lost. Blame the idiots driving the van!

Bad news, and bad times. What else is the Brown administration (and I use the term loosely) hiding?

[Nick]

Having failed to end “boom and bust”, is Brown now trying to end Democracy?

[John (Ex Military and Civil Service)]

Well done the Police. There has been far too much glorification of whistleblowers and those who encourage them. All military, civil and local authority employees sign the Official Secret Act and swear not to disclose any information they may acquire in the course of their duties. Any one, (MP or not), who tries to seduce one of these employees to break their oath or fail to carry out their duties is guilty of sedition. The oath does not give exemption for items which may or may not be "in the public interest". I hope they make an example of this previously "Unknown" MP.

[n peckett]

Europe does most of the governing of this country. That leaves the legislature a trifle sensitive about the little bits that are still their responsibility. More to come I should think.

[Braeinsh]

Does this mean whoever leaked the news to the press in Darling's statement this week should also be arrested. Or is it one rule for Government and another for the opposition?

[Jonathan]

What exactly were Home Office staff doing with a list of Labour MPs that may vote against the Government on the 42 day issue? Since when is it the role of the Home Office to work against the MPs?

I see John (ex Civil Service) defending the arrest, but I would hope that if he ever found himself being used for political purposes, he would be a whistleblower too.

If Jacqui Smith was misusing government staff for political purpose, what stops her using police for political purposes!

[M. Cawdery]

Arresting an MP. Is not that what Mugabe and his ZANU PF are doing in 3rd World Zimbabwe.

I have long been calling the PM Mugabe Brown. To have it proved so conclusively was not expected.

Oh by the way our Currency seems to be going the same way that Zimbabwe's has gone
though not as fast AS YET!

It is now up to Cameron to grind the Govt into the ground. David Davis at least stood up to the legislation on 42 days detention so he could hand over to him.

I note that other posters have seen the hand of Ian Blair and the Prince of Darkness in this - It was one of the first things that came to my mind.

Forecast: The whole issue will be fogged and lost in time. Too dangerous for the Govt to let the truth come out. BEWARE WHISTLEBLOWERS - THE MET WILL HAVE YOU TOO

[expat]

It makes no difference which government is in power- lib/lab/con, they're all pro EU, so you can say goodbye to democracy.

[tony]

Its WHITEWASH time AGAIN.......NULAB=We know nothing about it.. a full inquiry will be held and LESSONS WILL BE LEARNT......
It will not be in the "Public Interest"to divulge the findings of the inquiry.
HOGWASH !!

[john bentley]

will somebody please take out Gordon Brown.

[David]

Dear John (Ex Military and Civil Service). Presumably you have fallen for the propaganda that Britain is at war, and you are happy to choose a police state over democracy and human rights. I pray you are in a tiny minority. This case must persuade the Tories to promise the immediate dismantling of this outrageous Labour government's police state.
David

[Michael]

"Beatings are not happening yet but for how long?

Posted by: Richard | 28 Nov 2008 09:37:03 "

Beatings are happening. When middle class people demonstrated in Parliament Square against the ban on fox-hunting, the Met Police laid into them, battering their heads with truncheons - and the police weren't shy about doing it in front of the cameras, perhaps as a warning to anyone else who might have ideas about public protest.

Now opposition MPs are being arrested by what is in all but name a Gestapo and, despite Labour's claims, I suspect the arrest was ordered by the Labour government, the same Labour government that wants to put a tracking device in everyone's car, that wants to record details of every website you've visited, every text message and email you send and receive, every phone call you make. How easy it would be for a government to alter that data to discredit or imprison opponents.

[David, Newcastle upon Tyne]

A couple of years ago, the Labour Party held a conference in Gateshead, and armed police closed off the inner city motorway.

I remember how sinister the whole thing felt, and how alien it seemed to the Britain I grew up in.

Only recently the Government had to backtrack on an innocuous-sounding piece of legislation that would have enabled a minister to bring in any law under administrative rules that would effectively bypass Parliament.

It's all very alarming.

[PETER C]

we need to remember that Mr. Green used to work for and with David Davis, who is hated by the closet Fascists in the Home Office, who undoubtedly authorised this withthe full knowledge and connivance of Smith and Brown. it is a contempt of Parliament which should call an immediate full enquiry

[Cubbage]

I left the civil service in 1979 and due to Official Secrets Act I still can't discuss it. Surely this is a contravention of official secrets at the very highest level? So why you lot are going off at the government when it's clearly a police matter is beyond me. Actually, no it isn't. You nanny-state Tories think the government is responsible for everything, don't you?

[Father Ignatius Brown]

Read Hayek's "The Road to Serfdom" - then read it again and again and share it with everyone you know (if they can't read then read it to them).

It is all there - the whole chillingly logical reason by socialism of whatever shade leads gradually but surely to totalitarianism.

His chapter on why the worst rise to the top in such a system is very instructive (just look and any number of ministers and shudder) - and his analysis for how economic control leads to political control is so painfully accurate it makes you weep for the folly of this and previous generations who have let us wander so far down this dangerous road.

We have a "do anything" government - and they are the most dangerous - because they will do anything and say anything to stay in office.

[Andy Davies]

@cubbage: This is exactly the problem, the civil service seems to have forgotten they work for us.

If something isn't a matter of national security then the official secrets act shouldn't apply, and the public should know about them.

[Father Ignatius Brown]

The official secrets act should only be used to protect secrets that are paramount to our national security - nothing else - reporting / whistle-blowing on bad policy (and attempts to cover up bad policy decisions) is legitimate and essential in a free and open democracy.

[Melanie, W Sussex]

Wot, no scathing leading article the comment section?

The Thunderer barely wimpers... hardly surprising though, the message is clear.

[Ian Bryan]

People seem to be forgetting that we live in a police state. The people do not give the police powers, it’s the police that allow things to happen when they approve.

[John Gregory Flinn]

".... stories about the police's use of this offence make frightening reading"

One might be forgiven for thinking that this law was primarily designed to entrap the BNP. Indeed, as Mick Hume pointed out in his article earlier this week, "the Times 25th Nov", it was used for that by the Merseyside Police only last week.

However like all such legislation its interpretation widens as events develop, and that refrain from Germany in the 30s should remind us just how far it may go:-
“In Germany, they came first for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;

And then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;

And then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;

And then . . . they came for me . . . and by that time there was no one left to speak up.”

Was Damien Green "obliged" to provide finger-prints and DNA samples?

[John Bull]

Hitler did it quicky, Brown is doing it slowly, so we hardly notice. You wait elections will be posponed, state of emergency, and all for what? Power and money. If Brown were not a politician, he would be a pervy bankrupt shop keeper.

[George L]

Whatever happened to Parliamentary Privilege in all this? Surely the Speaker of the House of Commons ought now to require the Met to answer to the H of C for abuse of privilege.

[William]

What we are doing is dancing to the enemies tune, a few terrorists are dictating how we live our lives. Politicians tell us we are at war ! The reality is that it gives them the power to suppress. Mack Sennetts boys in London - the Keystone cops thrive on all these extra powers. In Northern Ireland we learned that in pursuing the bad guy it pays no divendends to offend the decent members of the public.

[Dave Morgan]

Mr Green is not a freedom fighter - he's just another dirty politician, sticking knives into other politicians so he can shove them out of the way and sink his own muzzle deeper into the trough. With the possible exception of Mr Skinner, the House of Commons is filled with the vilest collection of criminals in the country.

Perhaps Mr Green will be promoted by his grateful party.Then he'll be able move on from the rumour mill and spend his holidays with Russian mafia leaders, like his bosses.

[Richard Garland]

""misconduct in a public office"" !!

Is this the offence Prescott wan't arrested for when he was engaging in "ugandan discussions" with his secretary - and the offence Blunkett wasn't arrested for when he obtained free train tickets for his concubine.

[Geoff]

What is happening to our country? It is quite remarkable that such a short time after honouring the men and women who gave up their lives for our freedom that this should happen in Great Britain today. The Nul Labour motto should be cross us if you dare, it looks to me if anyone speaks out of term with the Government you may suffer serious consequences so bloggers be warned.
I am currently reading a book by Vernon Coleman (titled Gordon is a moron) where in one part he describes brown as a fascist? This also seems to be the case of some bloggers. As for me I am coming up to 49 and regretting the day I should have emigrated.

[Jurgen]

And Hazel Blears says we should be wary of the BNP?

[Invicta]

Dave Morgan said "With the possible exception of Mr Skinner, the House of Commons is filled with the vilest collection of criminals in the country." Thanks for the laugh Dave. Dennis Skinner had plenty of dealings with "Russian mafia leaders" only in his time they were members of the Communist party of The Soviet Union. Dennis Skinner not a vile criminal...that's a good one. Ha ha.

[Adrian Gilbert]

This story just strengthens the case for making the police more accountable to the electorate that they serve. We now know that having an elected Mayor of London is a good thing in that he was able to remove the extremely unpopular Sir Ian Blair from the Met. However, this process needs to be taken further. We should either have elected sheriffs (as I believe they do in America) or the local police services should be accountable to locally elected regional councils (probably County Councils). Either way, the Police must not be allowed to morph into a British Stasi.

[Doug. Rolph]

The ID card mantra is "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear"

In this case, apparently (note, apparently) the "nothing to hide" was some dirty little Home Office secret about their institutional incompetence vis-a-vis illegal (note, illegal) immigrants being employed in somewhat sensitive places.
Of course the Home Office is in fear -- they've broken the Eleventh Commandment -- "Thou shalt not be found out"

Welcome home, Peter! GB needs you in cases like this!

[Steve]

It wasn't coincidence that the Nazis called themselves National Socialist. We now seem to have National Nulabour.

[B]

Tony, below you said that BBC Coverage of this story is NIL. Actually I listened to David davies' very level-headed and robust interview on the Today programme on Radio Four this morning(from which he is quoted in this article). Don't forget that BBC & labour are not at all friendly. Which I suppose is why the Prime Minister felt it appropriate to kick the boot in to the Beeb about Ross & Brand, despite the slightly more pressing matters up for discussion during a global crisis.