View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Media Law
September 4, 2014updated 16 Sep 2014 10:22pm

Liberty condemns police seizure of Sun phone records

By Dominic Ponsford

Campaign group Liberty joined the chorus condemnation over police spying on journalists’ phone records as more evidence emerged of "intrusive surveillance" by UK law enforcement against journalists.

Press Gazette revealed on Tuesday how police had secretly obtained the phone records of Sun political editor Tom Newton Dunn (pictured above) and The Sun newsdesk in order to find and sack three officers who leaked information about Plebgate.

Legal director of Liberty James Welch said: “The police and other public bodies massively overuse their power to get details of who we’re calling or emailing – almost a quarter of a million times last year.

“This overuse is hardly surprising when there’s no requirement for prior authorisation from a judge.

“The unfettered use of this power to investigate journalists’ sources is particularly concerning to those who value free speech – free and fearless journalism is essential in any democracy.”  

The Met Police has said it is “not prepared to discuss” how many times it has secretly obtained journalists’ phone records under RIPA. Such requests are improved internally by the police, without going to a judge.

The Interception of Communications Commissioner's annual report reveals that public authorities made more than 500,000 RIPA requests for communications data last year, but it does not reveal if any of these involved journalists.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

The Office of the Surveillance Commissioner’s Office monitors intrusive surveillance under the Police Act 1997 which involves interference with property or wireless telegraphy.

The OSC annual report reveals that in the year to April 2013 some 2,440 such authorisations for intrusive surveillance were authorised (most of which internally). But in the 243 cases were “prior approval” was required by the OSC, one of these involved “confidential journalistic material”.

Press Gazette has asked both Commissioners if they are aware of any other instances where RIPA has been used to obtain the telecoms records of a journalist or a news organisation. Press Gazette has also asked if any consideration is given to the protection of confidential journalistic sources in the use of RIPA and other intrusive surveillance against journalists.

The Office of the Surveillance Commissioner does not reveal a postal address or telephone number.

Press Gazette received an automated response to our email enquiry saying: "We will not look at any request unless it comes directly from the Senior Responsible Officer of a public authority, RIPA Coordinators, or from the CAB (or equivalent) of a law enforcement agency…Your original e-mail will not be progressed further."

The Society of Editors, National Union of Journalists and Index on Censorship have all condemned the use of RIPA by the Met to out The Sun’s Plebgate sources.

The three officers concerned were cleared by the Crown Prosecution Service because it said a jury would be likely to decide that they acted in the public interest.

Topics in this article : , ,

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

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network