View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Media Law
October 16, 2014

MPs back motion calling for action to stop police using RIPA to find journalists’ sources

By William Turvill

A dozen MPs have so far supported a motion expressing concern over police use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act to find journalists's sources. (Picture: Reuters)

Proposed by Labour's John McDonnell yesterday, the Early Day Motion now has the backing of 11 other members from all major parties.

It calls on the Government to "take urgent steps to legislate to ensure there are protections for professions whose communications must be subject to strict confidentiality".

Peter Bottomley (Conservative), Ronnie Campbell (Labour), Martin Caton (Labour), Tracey Crouch (Conservative), Mark Durkan (Social Democratic and Labour), Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru), Mike Hancock (independent), Kate Hoey (Labour), Kelvin Hopkins (Labour), John Leech (Liberal Democrat) and Caroline Lucas (Green) have all put their names to the motion.

Separately, Labour MPs Meg Hillier and Ben Bradshaw, the former culture secretary, have supported Press Gazette's Save Our Sources campaign, which calls on the Interception of Communications Commissioner to prevent police forces from using RIPA to obtain journalists' phone records and expose sources. It has been signed by more than 1,200 journalists and press freedom campaigners.

The motion "welcomes the Interception of Communications Commissioner's new inquiry [set up in response to the Save Our Sources campaign] that will be asking all chief constables how many applications under RIPA have been granted since 2000 to access journalists' communications, and calls on these findings to be made public".

The Early Day Motion says:

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

That this House is gravely concerned about recent reports that police forces have used powers contained in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) to access journalists' sources and materials; notes that unlike requests made under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 there is no public record of these requests or their frequency, extent or even the existence of these applications, and there is no judicial oversight or independent process to grant permission to use these powers; further notes and welcomes the Interception of Communications Commissioner's new inquiry that will be asking all chief constables how many applications under RIPA have been granted since 2000 to access journalists' communications, and calls on these findings to be made public; shares the view of Gavin Millar QC that the use of such powers contravenes Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights on freedom of expression that enshrine the rights of journalists and news organisations; shares the concern of the National Union of Journalists and other press freedom and privacy campaigners that this constitutes an attack on the press which will make whistleblowers reluctant to speak to journalists and also make it more difficult to report in the public interest; and therefore calls on the Government to take urgent steps to legislate to ensure there are protections for professions whose communications must be subject to strict confidentiality

.

Topics in this article : , ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network