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Leveson told press 'jeopardised' Ipswich murders probe Leveson told press 'jeopardised' Ipswich murders probe
(about 1 hour later)
A retired police officer has told the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics the press "jeopardised" the Ipswich serial murder probe in 2006.A retired police officer has told the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics the press "jeopardised" the Ipswich serial murder probe in 2006.
David Harrison, who carried out surveillance of a suspect for Suffolk Police, said the News of the World hired ex-special forces soldiers. href="http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Witness-Statement-of-David-Harrison1.pdf" >David Harrison, who carried out surveillance of a suspect for Suffolk Police, said the News of the World hired ex-special forces soldiers.
He said they carried out their own surveillance and that could have resulted in police losing track of him.He said they carried out their own surveillance and that could have resulted in police losing track of him.
The inquiry is currently examining the press's relationship with the police.The inquiry is currently examining the press's relationship with the police.
Mr Harrison, a retired Serious and Organised Crime Agency (Soca) investigator, said he was deployed to help Suffolk police keep a suspect - who was later cleared of involvement - under surveillance in December 2006.Mr Harrison, a retired Serious and Organised Crime Agency (Soca) investigator, said he was deployed to help Suffolk police keep a suspect - who was later cleared of involvement - under surveillance in December 2006.
But he said the News of the World (NoW) employed their own investigators to follow the police team.But he said the News of the World (NoW) employed their own investigators to follow the police team.
He said the Sunday Mirror also picked up the suspect and tried to lose their police trail.He said the Sunday Mirror also picked up the suspect and tried to lose their police trail.
'Out of control''Out of control'
Lord Leveson said: "In a free society journalists are entitled to go where they want. But how difficult does it make it for the inquiry if a journalist takes a suspect off to interview?"Lord Leveson said: "In a free society journalists are entitled to go where they want. But how difficult does it make it for the inquiry if a journalist takes a suspect off to interview?"
Mr Harrison said if the suspect had been the real killer, and the press had enabled him to lose his police surveillance team, the investigation could have been hampered if he had disposed of evidence or committed further offences while "out of control".Mr Harrison said if the suspect had been the real killer, and the press had enabled him to lose his police surveillance team, the investigation could have been hampered if he had disposed of evidence or committed further offences while "out of control".
"If our surveillance had been weakened by having to try and avoid other surveillance teams looking for us, if we had lost the subject, he may have gone and committed further murders because we were dealing with something else," he added."If our surveillance had been weakened by having to try and avoid other surveillance teams looking for us, if we had lost the subject, he may have gone and committed further murders because we were dealing with something else," he added.
Steve Wright, 53, was jailed for life in 2008, for the murders of five women who worked as prostitutes.Steve Wright, 53, was jailed for life in 2008, for the murders of five women who worked as prostitutes.
John Twomey, chairman of the Crime Reporters Association (CRA), denied there was any "inducement" involved in taking out police officers for lunch in expensive restaurants. John Twomey, chairman of the Crime Reporters Association (CRA), said it was "shocking" the NoW followed a police surveillance team and it would have taken most reporters by surprise.
He also denied there was any "inducement" involved in taking out police officers for lunch in expensive restaurants.
Lord Leveson said he was not being "puritanical" but he asked if there was not a "perception" that such lunches could be perceived as an "inducement".Lord Leveson said he was not being "puritanical" but he asked if there was not a "perception" that such lunches could be perceived as an "inducement".
Mr Twomey, who has been the Daily Express's crime reporter since 1987, said: "Police stations are usually grim and inhospitable places and, like most people, detectives want to get out of the office and a pub or restaurant is just more convivial and more convenient." Mr Twomey, the Daily Express's crime reporter since 1987, said police stations were usually grim places and, like most people, detectives preferred to go to more convivial places like pubs or restaurants.
He said more expensive restaurants tended to be "less public" and he added: "They tended to be less crowded and the chances of being overheard were minimised." He said more expensive restaurants tended to be less public, less crowded, with less chance of being overheard.
Mr Twomey said taking contacts out for lunch was common among business, political and defence correspondents and he added: "It doesn't mean you're knocking back £400 bottles of champagne."Mr Twomey said taking contacts out for lunch was common among business, political and defence correspondents and he added: "It doesn't mean you're knocking back £400 bottles of champagne."
He was also asked about gifts the CRA gave to senior police officers Lord Condon, Lord Stevens and Peter Clarke, on their retirement. 'Bread and butter'
He was also asked about gifts the CRA gave to senior police officers Lord Condon, Lord Stevens and Peter Clarke, on their retirement from the Met.
Mr Twomey said Mr Clarke in particular was recognised for his work in the fight against terrorism and he said: "It's acknowledged in police circles the role that Peter Clarke played in those emergencies in the first decade of this century and [the gift] was a small token of our regard."Mr Twomey said Mr Clarke in particular was recognised for his work in the fight against terrorism and he said: "It's acknowledged in police circles the role that Peter Clarke played in those emergencies in the first decade of this century and [the gift] was a small token of our regard."
Mr Twomey said the CRA had 47 members, all of whom had been nominated by two existing members.Mr Twomey said the CRA had 47 members, all of whom had been nominated by two existing members.
He said the CRA did not have a code of conduct but he said: "Now is the time for careful thought and it may be the time for us to draw up a code of conduct, a statement of principles. But it will take some thought because we want it to be enduring." He said it may be time for the CRA to draw up a code of conduct, but warned that it would need careful thought because "we want it to be enduring".
Mr Twomey said he always checked out stories to make sure they were true before mentioning them to the Express newsdesk.Mr Twomey said he always checked out stories to make sure they were true before mentioning them to the Express newsdesk.
He told the inquiry some police contacts had stopped talking to the press after the negative publicity Scotland Yard received after the first investigation of Stephen Lawrence. He told the inquiry some police contacts had stopped talking to the press after the negative publicity Scotland Yard received following the first investigation into Stephen Lawrence's murder.
'Bread and butter' He said there could be "tensions" with the newsdesk and you had to trust your own judgements.
He said there could be "tensions" with the newsdesk and he said: "You just have to trust your own judgements.
"You would never go ahead with any story that would possibly jeopardise apprehending a criminal… or a prosecution," said Mr Twomey."You would never go ahead with any story that would possibly jeopardise apprehending a criminal… or a prosecution," said Mr Twomey.
Mr Twomey said his paper had a much "tighter budget" than other Fleet Street titles.
He said the "bread and butter" for a crime reporter usually came from information from officers at sergeant, inspector and superintendent level, rather than more senior figures.He said the "bread and butter" for a crime reporter usually came from information from officers at sergeant, inspector and superintendent level, rather than more senior figures.
Mr Twomey said he had lunch with Scotland Yard's chief press officer, Dick Fedorcio, once or twice a year to discuss various issues.Mr Twomey said he had lunch with Scotland Yard's chief press officer, Dick Fedorcio, once or twice a year to discuss various issues.
He said usually whatever was discussed was on a non-reportable basis. He said usually whatever was discussed was on a non-reportable basis and he always found Mr Fedorcio to be very professional and loyal to the Met.
Mr Twomey said: "I always found Dick Fedorcio very proper and very professional and very loyal" to the Metropolitan Police. Later, Sunday Express journalist James Murray said a Guardian article last year revealing murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone had been hacked, had had an "enormous impact" throughout the industry.
He was also asked for his opinion about Elizabeth Filkin's recommendations to the Met Commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, about police-press relationships. He said the relationship between the Met and journalists had been "chronically damaged".
Mr Twomey said he took a dim view of her suggestion that all police officers should have to make a note of any meeting they had with a journalist.
He said: "That would have a freezing effect. Officers would be less likely to talk to you."
But Lord Leveson intervened and said he could see merit in Mrs Filkin's recommendation, as long as it was followed "sensibly".