ACPO: Home Office Leaks Investigation

Mon, 01 December 2008 Courtesy of: ACPO

ACPO comment on investigation into Home Office leaks.  
Chief Constable Ken Jones and President of ACPO said:

"The last 48 hours has seen a good deal of speculation and critical commentary around the recent arrest of Damian Green MP. Such a reaction was inevitable but there comes a time to step back, suspend judgment and allow due process to run its course. The Home Office occupies a unique position in government, with responsibility for decisions on crime and terrorism which affect the safety and security of everyone. To meet that responsibility in a way which delivers effective law enforcement to the people of our country requires complete trust between government, law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Leaks can and do erode that trust, particularly given the critical and sensitive nature of information the Home Office handles. In recent times ACPO has shared the concerns of the Permanent Secretary regarding leaks from his department. The Metropolitan Police Service was properly asked to assist.

"The police service always strives to operate in the broader public interest, and not in the interests of any political party, group or government. This is an increasingly difficult task for the service but it is not one we will shirk. The independence of UK law enforcement from undue influence and pressure is the jewel in the crown in our system of criminal justice. We should protect that principle, even when inconvenient, as it occasionally is. If an investigation reveals that any person may be involved in wrongdoing then they have the right to expect that we will investigate the matter in ways which seek to get at the truth and either sustain the allegation or exonerate them. No one can be above the law. The good reputation of our Parliament turns, to an extent, on its willingness to demonstrate its support for this principle when necessary. Enquiries of this sort provide assurance that no person under investigation, regardless of station, shall be given an opportunity to influence an enquiry in their favour.

"There are now several avenues open whereby the MPS can properly be asked to give an account in due course. Meanwhile, to repeat an earlier point, we need to let the enquiry run its course."