Ministers questioned about police surveillance of journalists

This follows recent reports of investigation into sources of leak of diplomatic telegrams.

Home Office Minister, Nick Hurd Minister told MPs;

"Our security, and intelligence and law enforcement agencies will, in very limited circumstances, have a legitimate need to investigate a journalist or their source. But there need to be protections around that. The Investigatory Powers Act we believe does provide strong protections in relation to the use of investigatory powers for the purpose of identifying or confirming a journalistic source and for the obtaining of confidential journalistic information."

David Davis responded, saying;

"Can the Home Office Minister reassure the House that these intrusive  surveillance techniques were not used in this case, and they would never be, unless there was a serious crime or a real and serious threat to national security."

• Watch Parliament TV: Urgent Question/statement on police surveillance of journalists
• Read Commons Hansard: police surveillance of journalists

Image: PA

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