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Airport stop of Snowden reporter's partner David Miranda 'lawful' Airport stop of Snowden reporter's partner David Miranda 'lawful'
(35 minutes later)
The police detention of the partner of a former Guardian journalist at Heathrow Airport in 2013 was lawful, the Court of Appeal has decided.The police detention of the partner of a former Guardian journalist at Heathrow Airport in 2013 was lawful, the Court of Appeal has decided.
David Miranda was carrying material from whistleblower Edward Snowden about security services' surveillance.David Miranda was carrying material from whistleblower Edward Snowden about security services' surveillance.
He argued the stop had been a disproportionate use of anti-terrorism powers and breached human rights law.He argued the stop had been a disproportionate use of anti-terrorism powers and breached human rights law.
Judges did not agree with his claim, but did say existing laws did not offer enough safeguards for reporters.Judges did not agree with his claim, but did say existing laws did not offer enough safeguards for reporters.
They said the use of legislation under the Terrorism Act 2000 at ports and airports, "if used in respect of journalistic information or material", is incompatible with Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights - freedom of expression - and should be examined by Parliament. They said the use of legislation under the Terrorism Act 2000 at ports and airports, "in respect of journalistic information or material", is incompatible with Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights - freedom of expression - and should be examined by Parliament.
Code of practice 'Supporting journalist'
Brazilian Mr Miranda is the partner of Glenn Greenwald, who had written a series of stories about spying by US and UK security services. Brazilian Mr Miranda is the partner of Glenn Greenwald, who had written a series of stories about spying by the US and UK.
He was in transit from Germany to Brazil on 18 August 2013 when held by Metropolitan Police officers at Heathrow for nine hours. He said he had been "acting in support of Mr Greenwald's activities as a journalist" when stopped while in transit from Germany to Brazil on 18 August 2013.
Mr Miranda was carrying encrypted material "derived from the data obtained by Mr Snowden", a former US National Security Agency contractor who has been granted temporary asylum in Russia. Mr Miranda was held by Metropolitan Police officers at Heathrow for nine hours.
He was carrying encrypted material "derived from the data obtained by Mr Snowden", a former US National Security Agency contractor who has been granted temporary asylum in Russia.
It included 58,000 highly-classified documents from the UK's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).It included 58,000 highly-classified documents from the UK's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).
He brought a judicial review against the home secretary and the Metropolitan Police, and, in February 2014, the High Court said while the action amounted to "indirect interference" with press freedom, it had to be balanced against national security considerations. Mr Miranda brought a judicial review against the home secretary and the Metropolitan Police, and, in February 2014, the High Court said while the action amounted to "indirect interference" with press freedom, it had to be balanced against national security considerations.
Analysis by June Kelly, BBC News home affairs correspondent Code of practice
David Miranda's lawyers had argued that he should not have been stopped under what is known as Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
They cited concerns raised by the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, David Anderson QC, about the breadth of the UK's current definition of terrorism.
On the use of the stop power, the Court of Appeal ruled that the compelling national security interests outweighed Mr Miranda's human rights under the European Convention.
But significantly, the court said that the stop power, if used in respect of journalistic information, was incompatible with human rights legislation and Parliament must look at safeguards.
In response the Home Office said that in 2015 it had changed the Code of Practice for police officers, instructing them not to examine journalistic material at all. David Miranda's lawyers say legislation is needed.
The Court of Appeal said the authorities had been justified in detaining Mr Miranda under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 .The Court of Appeal said the authorities had been justified in detaining Mr Miranda under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 .
"The police exercised the power for a permitted purpose. They were entitled to consider that material in his possession might be released in circumstances falling within the definition of terrorism," it said."The police exercised the power for a permitted purpose. They were entitled to consider that material in his possession might be released in circumstances falling within the definition of terrorism," it said.
The Home Office maintains rules now in place give adequate protection to journalists, but lawyers for Mr Miranda say they do not go far enough and legislation is required.The Home Office maintains rules now in place give adequate protection to journalists, but lawyers for Mr Miranda say they do not go far enough and legislation is required.
A Home Office spokesman said: "We have always been clear that David Miranda's examination by police under Schedule 7 was lawful and proportionate. The Court of Appeal's judgment in this case supports the action taken by police to protect national security.A Home Office spokesman said: "We have always been clear that David Miranda's examination by police under Schedule 7 was lawful and proportionate. The Court of Appeal's judgment in this case supports the action taken by police to protect national security.
"In 2015 we changed the code of practice for examining officers to instruct them not to examine journalistic material at all. This goes above and beyond the court's recommendations in this case.""In 2015 we changed the code of practice for examining officers to instruct them not to examine journalistic material at all. This goes above and beyond the court's recommendations in this case."
Rosie Brighouse, from human rights group Liberty, said the judgement relating to police stops involving journalist material was a "major victory for the free press".Rosie Brighouse, from human rights group Liberty, said the judgement relating to police stops involving journalist material was a "major victory for the free press".
John Halford, from Bindmans, the law firm which represented Mr Miranda, said the court "decided that taking effective action against terrorism involves using instruments that are fit for purpose, rather than those that are so blunt that they inevitably damage the interests of democratic societies".John Halford, from Bindmans, the law firm which represented Mr Miranda, said the court "decided that taking effective action against terrorism involves using instruments that are fit for purpose, rather than those that are so blunt that they inevitably damage the interests of democratic societies".
David Miranda detention