The Crown Prosecution Service today announced that Sun crime reporter Anthony France is to be charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.
The news comes some 19 months after his initial arrest on 17 January 2013 by police from working the Operation Elveden probe into payments to public officials.
He was arrestedas a result of information provided by News Corp’s Management and Standards Committee in a dawn raid on his Hertfordshire home on 17 January 2013.
Gregor McGill, a senior lawyer at the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "In April 2014 the CPS received a file from the Metropolitan Police and we have today authorised the police to charge Anthony France with two offences of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.
"Anthony France will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on 21 August 2014.
"May I remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against Anthony France will now be commenced and of his right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.
"These decisions were taken in accordance with the Code of Crown Prosecutors and the DPP's guidelines on the public interest in cases affecting the media. We have decided there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest."
The charges in full:
Anthony FRANCE, between 31 March 2008 and 1 July 2011, conspired together with Timothy Edwards, and with others unknown, to commit misconduct in public office, contrary to section 1(1) Criminal Law Act 1977
Anthony FRANCE, between 19 July 2009 and 14 August 2009, conspired together with others to commit misconduct in public office, contrary to section 1(1) Criminal Law Act 1977
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