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| Nicola Sturgeon told to reveal what she knew of Police Scotland spying claims | Nicola Sturgeon told to reveal what she knew of Police Scotland spying claims |
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| The Scottish government is under growing pressure to clear the air over alleged spying on journalists and their sources by an elite unit within Police Scotland. | The Scottish government is under growing pressure to clear the air over alleged spying on journalists and their sources by an elite unit within Police Scotland. |
| Scottish Labour has tabled a parliamentary motion calling on Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, to reveal what she knows about the allegations. | Scottish Labour has tabled a parliamentary motion calling on Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, to reveal what she knows about the allegations. |
| “We need full transparency from the first minister about exactly what SNP government ministers know about these allegations and whether they have authorised any surveillance of journalists and their sources by Police Scotland,” said Hugh Henry, Scottish Labour’s shadow justice secretary. | “We need full transparency from the first minister about exactly what SNP government ministers know about these allegations and whether they have authorised any surveillance of journalists and their sources by Police Scotland,” said Hugh Henry, Scottish Labour’s shadow justice secretary. |
| The political row follows a report in the Sunday Herald that named Police Scotland as one of two forces which used the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa) without judicial approval to find sources. Ripa was amended in March, requiring judicial approval before officers can gain access to journalists’ phone records, texts and emails. | The political row follows a report in the Sunday Herald that named Police Scotland as one of two forces which used the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa) without judicial approval to find sources. Ripa was amended in March, requiring judicial approval before officers can gain access to journalists’ phone records, texts and emails. |
| The Herald reported that Police Scotland’s elite counter corruption unit (CCU) used its spying powers to try to uncover a journalist’s sources without getting approval. | The Herald reported that Police Scotland’s elite counter corruption unit (CCU) used its spying powers to try to uncover a journalist’s sources without getting approval. |
| The Interception of Communications Commissioner’s Office (Iocco), the body that regulates the use of Ripa, revealed last month that it was investigating two forces for “serious contraventions” of its code of conduct, but it did not name the forces or individuals involved. | The Interception of Communications Commissioner’s Office (Iocco), the body that regulates the use of Ripa, revealed last month that it was investigating two forces for “serious contraventions” of its code of conduct, but it did not name the forces or individuals involved. |
| As pressure mounts on the Scottish government and Police Scotland, Iocco released a statement on Tuesday, explaining why it is withholding the names of the two forces. | As pressure mounts on the Scottish government and Police Scotland, Iocco released a statement on Tuesday, explaining why it is withholding the names of the two forces. |
| Related: Political row in Scotland over police snooping on journalist | Related: Political row in Scotland over police snooping on journalist |
| “It would be wholly inappropriate for us to name the two police forces whilst we are still in the process of investigating fully these matters,” it said. “Our primary concerns are to ensure that our investigation process is not prejudiced, that the privacy of those individuals who may have been adversely affected is protected and that those individuals are able to seek effective remedy. | “It would be wholly inappropriate for us to name the two police forces whilst we are still in the process of investigating fully these matters,” it said. “Our primary concerns are to ensure that our investigation process is not prejudiced, that the privacy of those individuals who may have been adversely affected is protected and that those individuals are able to seek effective remedy. |
| “Careful consideration has also had to be given to the fact that criminal investigations and legal proceedings are invariably active and we are not yet in a position to consider the impact or potential wider consequences of naming.” | “Careful consideration has also had to be given to the fact that criminal investigations and legal proceedings are invariably active and we are not yet in a position to consider the impact or potential wider consequences of naming.” |
| In its report, the Sunday Herald said: “It is understood the case may relate to a public interest story on a well-known murder. A figure who had helped the newspaper received a police ‘calling card’ after the article was published.” | In its report, the Sunday Herald said: “It is understood the case may relate to a public interest story on a well-known murder. A figure who had helped the newspaper received a police ‘calling card’ after the article was published.” |
| Police Scotland has refused to confirm or deny the report. “Iocco has clearly set out its rationale for not identifying organisations in its report, and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further,” said a Police Scotland spokesperson. | Police Scotland has refused to confirm or deny the report. “Iocco has clearly set out its rationale for not identifying organisations in its report, and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further,” said a Police Scotland spokesperson. |
| Civil liberties groups have expressed their concern over the allegations. “This latest revelation of unlawful attacks on our ‘free press’ further demonstrates that no one is above the snooping of the security services and the police – not journalists, not members of the European or Scottish parliaments, not lawyers, not you or I,” said Rachel Robinson, policy officer at Liberty. “We urge the forces involved to make themselves known and explain the steps they will take to ensure such damaging spying does not happen again.” | Civil liberties groups have expressed their concern over the allegations. “This latest revelation of unlawful attacks on our ‘free press’ further demonstrates that no one is above the snooping of the security services and the police – not journalists, not members of the European or Scottish parliaments, not lawyers, not you or I,” said Rachel Robinson, policy officer at Liberty. “We urge the forces involved to make themselves known and explain the steps they will take to ensure such damaging spying does not happen again.” |
| Pen International, the writers’ association, has called for an investigation into the allegations. “Spying on journalists is a serious violation of one of the central pillars of a democratic society: press freedom,” the group, which promotes freedom of expression, said. | Pen International, the writers’ association, has called for an investigation into the allegations. “Spying on journalists is a serious violation of one of the central pillars of a democratic society: press freedom,” the group, which promotes freedom of expression, said. |
| Drew Campbell, president of the Scottish branch of Pen , said: “Two weeks ago Nicola Sturgeon wrote to David Cameron demanding answers about MI5 surveillance of MSPs – quite rightly as this would be an unacceptable abuse of state power. Now the first minister must apply the same standard to the security services under the locus of the Scottish parliament: the Scottish government must address serious questions on Police Scotland’s alleged breach of regulations on surveillance and investigation of practising journalists. | Drew Campbell, president of the Scottish branch of Pen , said: “Two weeks ago Nicola Sturgeon wrote to David Cameron demanding answers about MI5 surveillance of MSPs – quite rightly as this would be an unacceptable abuse of state power. Now the first minister must apply the same standard to the security services under the locus of the Scottish parliament: the Scottish government must address serious questions on Police Scotland’s alleged breach of regulations on surveillance and investigation of practising journalists. |
| “If the Scottish government is fighting for the moral high ground on such issues it must be clear on this matter – or risk becoming mired in a morass of its own making.” | “If the Scottish government is fighting for the moral high ground on such issues it must be clear on this matter – or risk becoming mired in a morass of its own making.” |
| The furore over alleged police snooping on journalists is the latest row to engulf Police Scotland. The force is under fire after the death in custody of Sheku Bayoh following an incident in Kirkcaldy and for failing to respond to a report of a car crash, in which a young woman died after lying undiscovered for three days. | The furore over alleged police snooping on journalists is the latest row to engulf Police Scotland. The force is under fire after the death in custody of Sheku Bayoh following an incident in Kirkcaldy and for failing to respond to a report of a car crash, in which a young woman died after lying undiscovered for three days. |
| A Scottish government spokesperson said: “The investigation of the reported breaches is ongoing and is a matter for Iocco. Iocco have made clear it would be wholly inappropriate for them to make public the identity of the two police forces while their investigation is ongoing and have set out the reasons for this. | |
| “It is therefore not appropriate to comment further while the investigations are ongoing. However, if there are any issues arising out of these investigations, they should be fully addressed by the appropriate bodies when they have concluded.” | “It is therefore not appropriate to comment further while the investigations are ongoing. However, if there are any issues arising out of these investigations, they should be fully addressed by the appropriate bodies when they have concluded.” |