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August 26, 2014

Former senior policeman still in legal limbo two and a half years after arrest on suspicion of leaking story to a journalist

By Dominic Ponsford

A former senior Scotland Yard officer remains in legal limbo some two and a half years after being arrested on suspicion of leaking information to a journalist.

The former detective chief superintendant, 52 at the time, was questioned on suspicion of misconduct in public office by officers from the Independent Police Complaints Authority at his Berkshire home on 10 January 2012.

The officer was widely named at the time of his arrest as being Dave Cook.

Cook is believed to have been placed under surveillance by the News of the World in 2002 after making a fresh appeal for witnesses to the Daniel Morgan murder on Crimewatch.

Former private investigator Morgan was killed in 1987. His family believe he may have been killed because he was about to make revelations about police corruption.

Cook last month told the BBC how he saw a van parked outside his home and found out that it was leased by the News of the World. He said: "They were trying to undermine the investigation into the murder of Daniel Morgan, it's as simple as that."

Asked for an update on the case the IPCC told Press Gazette: “The investigation is complete. The commissioner saw a draft report earlier this year and asked for further work to be done on it. That's now complete and the final report is with her for her consideration on whether the case will be referred to the CPS.

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“I understand decision will be made as soon as practicable. The man's legal team has been kept updated.”

At the time of his arrest a spokesman for the IPCC said: “A 52-year-old man, a former Met officer, was arrested by the IPCC at his home in Berkshire this morning on suspicion of misconduct in public office and Data Protection Act offences. The arrest is the result of information passed to the IPCC by the Metropolitan Police Service team investigating Operation Elveden and relates to the alleged passing of unauthorised information to a journalist.”

Cook’s case was referred to the IPCC by detectives on Operation Elveden looking into allegations of wrongdoing involving journalists.

Of the 63 journalists who have been arrested and/or charged since April 2011 six remain on police bail.

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

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