CPS takes no further action against journalist and public official

The Crown Prosecution Service has chosen to take no further action against a journalist for conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.

The unnamed journalist and a public official were cleared by the CPS yesterday.

According to The Guardian, the journalist concerned is understood to have worked for The Sun at the time of the alleged wrongdoing.

Gregor McGill, a senior lawyer at the CPS, said: “The CPS has decided that no further action will be taken regarding two individuals – a journalist and a public official – whose full file was passed to the CPS on 19 September 2014. After careful consideration it has been decided that there is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction for the charge of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

“This decision was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and the Director’s guidelines on assessing the public interest in cases affecting the media.

“Any decision by the CPS does not imply any finding concerning guilt or criminal conduct; the CPS makes decisions only according to the test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and it is applied in all decisions on whether or not to prosecute.”

The journalist is thought to have been questioned under caution by police, but not arrested.