Thames Valley Police has again refused to confirm or deny whether it has used the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act to spy on journalists.

The Oxford Mail has revealed that the force has now rejected its request on the grounds that law enforcement would be compromised by disclosure.

The Mail, as well as the Newbury Weekly News, previously had a Freedom of Information request rejected by Thames Valley Police on the grounds that its questioning was “vexatious”, under section 14.1 of the act.