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| Met police defends use of dawn raids in journalists' arrests | Met police defends use of dawn raids in journalists' arrests |
| (4 months later) | |
| Scotland Yard has defended its treatment of journalists arrested over alleged illegal payments to public officials in a letter to the newspaper industry's trade body. | Scotland Yard has defended its treatment of journalists arrested over alleged illegal payments to public officials in a letter to the newspaper industry's trade body. |
| The letter to the Society of Editors from the senior Metropolitan police officer responsible for the investigation into alleged bribery of public officials by journalists follows widespread criticism by the newspaper industry of the force's use of tactics including early morning raids. | The letter to the Society of Editors from the senior Metropolitan police officer responsible for the investigation into alleged bribery of public officials by journalists follows widespread criticism by the newspaper industry of the force's use of tactics including early morning raids. |
| Cressida Dick, the Met's assistant commissioner for specialist operations, said she wanted to reassure editors on a number of points "in the light of some recent reporting and commentary about Operation Elveden". | Cressida Dick, the Met's assistant commissioner for specialist operations, said she wanted to reassure editors on a number of points "in the light of some recent reporting and commentary about Operation Elveden". |
| Dick added, in a letter to Society of Editors executive director Bob Satchwell, that there were "sound operational reasons" for journalists being arrested on suspicion of inappropriate payments to police and other public office in dawn raids. | Dick added, in a letter to Society of Editors executive director Bob Satchwell, that there were "sound operational reasons" for journalists being arrested on suspicion of inappropriate payments to police and other public office in dawn raids. |
| "Although this has been criticised, we consider it would be wrong to compromise potential opportunities because those being detained are journalists, police officers or other public officials," she wrote. "We genuinely try to carry out these arrests in a low key manner and as swiftly as possible." | "Although this has been criticised, we consider it would be wrong to compromise potential opportunities because those being detained are journalists, police officers or other public officials," she wrote. "We genuinely try to carry out these arrests in a low key manner and as swiftly as possible." |
| Dick said suspected criminal wrongdoing could not be ignored, even when it does not involve payment. | Dick said suspected criminal wrongdoing could not be ignored, even when it does not involve payment. |
| She added that her officers follow court of appeal guidance that for criminal sanctions to be appropriate, the suspected misconduct would normally have to mean that a public official's behaviour had fallen "so far below the standards accepted as to amount to an abuse of the public's trust in the office holder". | She added that her officers follow court of appeal guidance that for criminal sanctions to be appropriate, the suspected misconduct would normally have to mean that a public official's behaviour had fallen "so far below the standards accepted as to amount to an abuse of the public's trust in the office holder". |
| Dick also addressed other criticism of police tactics, including the length of time some arrestees have been on bail, which in the case of a number of Sun journalists is now more than a year. | Dick also addressed other criticism of police tactics, including the length of time some arrestees have been on bail, which in the case of a number of Sun journalists is now more than a year. |
| She said the slow progress was regrettable, adding that the delays in deciding whether or not to charge those arrrested were down to the complex nature of the Elveden investigation. | She said the slow progress was regrettable, adding that the delays in deciding whether or not to charge those arrrested were down to the complex nature of the Elveden investigation. |
| "There have been millions of emails, documentation, complex communications data and trails of financial transactions that require painstaking analysis as evidence has gradually emerged," Dick said. | "There have been millions of emails, documentation, complex communications data and trails of financial transactions that require painstaking analysis as evidence has gradually emerged," Dick said. |
| In relation to the criticism that journalists have been put under surveillance by officers working on Operation Elveden, she said discreet checks in the runup to an arrest at a particular time and place were "necessary police procedure". | In relation to the criticism that journalists have been put under surveillance by officers working on Operation Elveden, she said discreet checks in the runup to an arrest at a particular time and place were "necessary police procedure". |
| "I believe it is important to remember that we are not investigating victimless crimes, nor has the remit of Operation Elveden been extended to any police officer who has simply spoken to a journalist, as has been suggested," Dick added. "It is important not to lose sight of the fact that this investigation is about alleged corruption in public bodies." | "I believe it is important to remember that we are not investigating victimless crimes, nor has the remit of Operation Elveden been extended to any police officer who has simply spoken to a journalist, as has been suggested," Dick added. "It is important not to lose sight of the fact that this investigation is about alleged corruption in public bodies." |
| She concluded the letter by saying that an unintended and, she hoped, short-term consequence "may be a negative effect on relations between police and journalists". | She concluded the letter by saying that an unintended and, she hoped, short-term consequence "may be a negative effect on relations between police and journalists". |
| "This is unfortunate but in no way undermines the value the [Met] puts on the role of a free and investigative press in a democratic society – indeed this investigation is the result of such journalism. We want open, professional and trusting relationships between our officers and journalists." | "This is unfortunate but in no way undermines the value the [Met] puts on the role of a free and investigative press in a democratic society – indeed this investigation is the result of such journalism. We want open, professional and trusting relationships between our officers and journalists." |
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