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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Bug row officer fears for safety | Bug row officer fears for safety |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The ex-police officer who claims he bugged an MP's visit to a jailed constituent says his life is "at risk" after the case was leaked to the media. | The ex-police officer who claims he bugged an MP's visit to a jailed constituent says his life is "at risk" after the case was leaked to the media. |
| Mark Kearney, a former police intelligence officer at Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes, says he did not think it was right to bug MP Sadiq Khan. | Mark Kearney, a former police intelligence officer at Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes, says he did not think it was right to bug MP Sadiq Khan. |
| But he claimed the Met Police put him under "significant pressure" to do so. | But he claimed the Met Police put him under "significant pressure" to do so. |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis said the case raised questions over "who is in charge" of surveillance in the UK. | Shadow home secretary David Davis said the case raised questions over "who is in charge" of surveillance in the UK. |
| He spoke out as it emerged that officials in the Home Office and Ministry of Justice were told in December of the incident. | He spoke out as it emerged that officials in the Home Office and Ministry of Justice were told in December of the incident. |
| Childhood friends | Childhood friends |
| However, the BBC has learnt that Justice Secretary Jack Straw and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had not been aware until the Sunday Times reports emerged this weekend. | However, the BBC has learnt that Justice Secretary Jack Straw and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had not been aware until the Sunday Times reports emerged this weekend. |
| Mr Davis told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that it was apparent that Mr Straw and Ms Smith were "not in charge of their departments". | Mr Davis told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that it was apparent that Mr Straw and Ms Smith were "not in charge of their departments". |
| I'm shocked and disgusted by this leakage to the media - I believe it puts my life and safety at risk Mark KearneyEx-police officer href="/1/hi/puffbox/promo/regular/7228293.inc">Is prison bugging common? class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7225871.stm">Q&A: MP bugging row | |
| "Why was this allowed to happen without any ministerial knowledge?" he asked. | "Why was this allowed to happen without any ministerial knowledge?" he asked. |
| "Why, when it was discovered in December, they didn't tell Jack Straw or Jacqui Smith?" | "Why, when it was discovered in December, they didn't tell Jack Straw or Jacqui Smith?" |
| The conversations alleged to have been recorded took place in 2005 and 2006 at Woodhill Prison. | The conversations alleged to have been recorded took place in 2005 and 2006 at Woodhill Prison. |
| They were between Mr Khan and Babar Ahmad - a constituent and childhood friend - who is in prison awaiting extradition to the US. | They were between Mr Khan and Babar Ahmad - a constituent and childhood friend - who is in prison awaiting extradition to the US. |
| He is accused there of running websites supporting the Taleban and Chechen terrorists, though he faces no charges in the UK. | He is accused there of running websites supporting the Taleban and Chechen terrorists, though he faces no charges in the UK. |
| 'Significant pressure' | 'Significant pressure' |
| Former Thames Valley Police sergeant Mr Kearney, who was working at the jail, faces charges - unrelated to the bugging claims - of leaking information to a local newspaper. | Former Thames Valley Police sergeant Mr Kearney, who was working at the jail, faces charges - unrelated to the bugging claims - of leaking information to a local newspaper. |
| He told the BBC he was "shocked and disgusted" that the case had been leaked to the media. | He told the BBC he was "shocked and disgusted" that the case had been leaked to the media. |
| The debate now will focus on whether political surveillance is returning, or whether MPs - like us all - should be liable to be bugged if there is a perceived threat to national security. BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full Solicitor's bugging fear | The debate now will focus on whether political surveillance is returning, or whether MPs - like us all - should be liable to be bugged if there is a perceived threat to national security. BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full Solicitor's bugging fear |
| "I believe it puts my life and safety at risk," he said. "I would also like to say I am quite prepared to cooperate with any inquiry so it can reach a proper conclusion." | "I believe it puts my life and safety at risk," he said. "I would also like to say I am quite prepared to cooperate with any inquiry so it can reach a proper conclusion." |
| In a statement prepared by his solicitors, Mr Kearney said there was "significant pressure from the Metropolitan Police requesting that we covertly record a social visit between a terrorist detainee and a member of Parliament". | In a statement prepared by his solicitors, Mr Kearney said there was "significant pressure from the Metropolitan Police requesting that we covertly record a social visit between a terrorist detainee and a member of Parliament". |
| "The MP concerned was Sadiq Khan... I did record the visit but have never felt it was justified in these circumstances," he said. | "The MP concerned was Sadiq Khan... I did record the visit but have never felt it was justified in these circumstances," he said. |
| Mr Straw announced on Monday that Chief Surveillance Commissioner Sir Christopher Rose is to head an inquiry into the allegations. | Mr Straw announced on Monday that Chief Surveillance Commissioner Sir Christopher Rose is to head an inquiry into the allegations. |
| He said Sir Christopher, a former Court of Appeal judge, would try to find out under whose authority any bugging was carried out and would present his findings within two weeks. | He said Sir Christopher, a former Court of Appeal judge, would try to find out under whose authority any bugging was carried out and would present his findings within two weeks. |
| Wilson Doctrine | Wilson Doctrine |
| Mr Straw insisted that a chief police officer had to authorise eavesdropping operations, adding that "ministers play no part in these authorisations". | Mr Straw insisted that a chief police officer had to authorise eavesdropping operations, adding that "ministers play no part in these authorisations". |
| Police are entitled to monitor prisoners' communications but such operations must first be approved by the surveillance commissioner who considers them on a case-by-case basis. | Police are entitled to monitor prisoners' communications but such operations must first be approved by the surveillance commissioner who considers them on a case-by-case basis. |
| However, a code known as the Wilson Doctrine forbids the covert recording of conversations between MPs and their constituents. | However, a code known as the Wilson Doctrine forbids the covert recording of conversations between MPs and their constituents. |
| On Sunday Mr Khan - now a government whip - said he had no idea he might have been bugged and was pleased Mr Straw had announced a swift inquiry. | On Sunday Mr Khan - now a government whip - said he had no idea he might have been bugged and was pleased Mr Straw had announced a swift inquiry. |