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Police 'entered Tory MP's office' Police 'entered Tory MP's office'
(10 minutes later)
A Conservative MP has alleged that police entered his Commons office without a search warrant demanding to see constituency correspondence.A Conservative MP has alleged that police entered his Commons office without a search warrant demanding to see constituency correspondence.
Daniel Kawczynski said he found it "disgraceful" after the controversy over the arrest of shadow immigration minister Damian Green last year.Daniel Kawczynski said he found it "disgraceful" after the controversy over the arrest of shadow immigration minister Damian Green last year.
The MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham said he had handed over the letter that the police had demanded. The MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham said he had handed over the letter.
Mr Kawczynski said it was to his "eternal shame" that he had complied. He said the inquiry related to a Shrewsbury-postmarked letter containing "white powder" sent to a minister.
The news follows the arrest of shadow immigration minister Mr Green, and the search of his Commons offices, last year. Mr Kawczynski said it was to his "eternal shame" that he had complied by handing over the letter.
His comments follow the arrest of shadow immigration minister Mr Green, and the search of his Commons offices, last year.
'Important case''Important case'
Mr Kawczynski said the investigation related to a letter sent to Schools Secretary Ed Balls, which contained white powder that later turned out to be flour.
The letter had been sent from his constituency, he added.
Mr Kawczynski said he had received a phone call from an assistant telling him that police were searching his office.
Speaking in the House of Commons, he used a point of order to raise the matter, saying: "I am extremely shocked at what I am going to say."Speaking in the House of Commons, he used a point of order to raise the matter, saying: "I am extremely shocked at what I am going to say."
He said he had been informed by his office about a police raid as he was due to make a speech in a debate. Mr Kawczynski added: "I received a note from my office that there was a police officer in my office demanding to see correspondence.
Mr Kawczynski said: "I received a note from my office that there was a police officer in my office demanding to see correspondence.
"They were already present in my office and I went down to see them after making my speech.""They were already present in my office and I went down to see them after making my speech."
The police had been investigating an "important case", the MP said, involving correspondence sent to ministers and had wanted "handwritten samples" of letters received by him.The police had been investigating an "important case", the MP said, involving correspondence sent to ministers and had wanted "handwritten samples" of letters received by him.
Mr Kawczynski said: "I was extremely appalled that the officer can behave in this way, to enter a Member of Parliament's office with no warrant and to demand constituency correspondence."Mr Kawczynski said: "I was extremely appalled that the officer can behave in this way, to enter a Member of Parliament's office with no warrant and to demand constituency correspondence."
He said he would "have to live with" his decision to hand over the letter demanded by the police.He said he would "have to live with" his decision to hand over the letter demanded by the police.
Mr Kawczynski told deputy Commons Speaker Sir Michael Lord: "After everything that has happened to Mr Green, I find it disgraceful that this is happening and I urge you to investigate."Mr Kawczynski told deputy Commons Speaker Sir Michael Lord: "After everything that has happened to Mr Green, I find it disgraceful that this is happening and I urge you to investigate."
Fellow Tory MP Tobias Ellwood demanded that Home Secretary Jacqui Smith make a statement to MPs about the matter.Fellow Tory MP Tobias Ellwood demanded that Home Secretary Jacqui Smith make a statement to MPs about the matter.
He said: "It is clear this is a shocking event that has taken place."He said: "It is clear this is a shocking event that has taken place."
Mr Ellwood said that following the search of Mr Green's Commons office "we did have assurances that no offices would be entered unless a warrant was produced and that clearly hasn't happened today and we deserve to have some sort of clarification by the home secretary".Mr Ellwood said that following the search of Mr Green's Commons office "we did have assurances that no offices would be entered unless a warrant was produced and that clearly hasn't happened today and we deserve to have some sort of clarification by the home secretary".
Sir Michael said he understood the "great concern" about the incident but had "no knowledge of this matter".Sir Michael said he understood the "great concern" about the incident but had "no knowledge of this matter".
He told Mr Kawczynski: "If it is as you say it is, then it is obviously extremely serious and my advice would be that you should take the matter up with the House of Commons authorities as quickly as possible."He told Mr Kawczynski: "If it is as you say it is, then it is obviously extremely serious and my advice would be that you should take the matter up with the House of Commons authorities as quickly as possible."
Sir Michael said he would refer the matter immediately to Speaker Michael Martin.Sir Michael said he would refer the matter immediately to Speaker Michael Martin.