View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Media Law
August 13, 2014

News UK chief pledges support to ‘highly respected’ crime reporter facing corruption trial

By Dominic Ponsford

News UK chief executive Mike Darcey has pledged his support to “highly respected” Sun crime reporter Anthony France following the news that he is to face trial.

The Crown Prosecution Service revealed yesterday that France was to be charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.

The news came 19 months after France was arrested by officers from the Operation Elveden investigation into payments by journalists. They were acting on information provided by News Corp’s own Management and Standards Committee.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2008 and 2011.

France was told that he was to be charged a day after his 41st birthday.

Darcey said in an email to staff: "I am sorry to have to share the news that Anthony France, a crime reporter for The Sun, will be charged in connection with Operation Elveden.

"Anthony is a hugely popular and highly respected member of The Sun team and has been an integral part of the newsroom since 2004.

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

"He joined us after stints on the Mail on Sunday, Evening Standard and Sunday Mirror and almost immediately scored one of the biggest scoops of the year. At the height of concerns over security in The Houses of Parliament, Anthony revealed how lax security still was with the classic front page 'Sun 'Bomber' In Commons'. The accompanying picture was Anthony, as a waiter, serving then Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

"Since then he has concentrated on covering crime issues and security, often asking difficult questions of Britain's police chiefs. He broke a string of big stories including the Sally Anne Bowman murder and the John Worboys serial rapist case. Despite being at the centre of a police inquiry, Anthony covered the Oscar Pistorius murder trial and Nelson Mandela's state funeral in South Africa.

"It is always difficult to hear such challenging news and I am grateful for the continued professionalism demonstrated by everyone on the paper, producing outstanding journalism everyday while we navigate these challenges.

"We will continue to support Anthony in every way we can and our thoughts are with him during this incredibly tough time."

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