View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Publishers
  2. National Newspapers
November 12, 2013updated 13 Nov 2013 2:46pm

MP told by police that Met investigating Guardian over Snowden files

By Darren Boyle

The Metropolitan Police has tasked a team of detectives to investigate the Guardian over the Edward Snowden leaks, it has been claimed.

Conservative MP Julian Smith, who has been a vocal critic of the newspaper, wrote to Met Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe asking him to look into the affair.

According to the Times, Smith received a letter from Met Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick confirming the investigation.

Dick is the officer in charge of Operations Weeting and Elveden which are looking into illegal phone-hacking by newspapers and corrupt payments to public officials.

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

Said she has “a team of highly capable detectives dedicated to this investigation who are committed to following the evidence wherever it may lead.

“I hope that you will be able to draw reassurance from our record of achievement in relation to the prosecution of terrorist offences and matters of national security.”

Smith wrote to Scotland Yard last month in a bid to pressure the Met to act.

The MP she he has also written to members of the Scott Trust asking them for information on the Snowden affair.

This follows former defence secretary Liam Fox seeking guidance from the Attorney General Dominic Grieve on whether the Guardian had committed a criminal offence in sending the Snowden files abroad.

Fox wanted to know whether the newspaper was guilty of a criminal offence by passing on the files which could identify British agents and security assets abroad.

The Times said the criminal investigation was launched after David Miranda, partner or former Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald was detained in Heathrow airport while carrying top-secret files.

Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger will appear before the Home Affairs Select Committee to answer MPs’ questions about the Snowden files.

A spokesperson for the Guardian said: “We have no details of any criminal inquiry and have not had any contact with the police regarding this matter.”

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