A few days ago I received an interesting letter from Leicestershire police about the Madeleine McCann investigation.

I had asked them, in July, if they had got any warrants (under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act) to use surveillance powers - such as phone tapping and email interception on behalf of the Portuguese police.

The force initially stalled saying it needed to "consult other Agencies" before replying.

After a six month delay, Leicestershire has now claimed it is exempt from Freedom of Information laws in this case due to "national security".

I've put in dozens of FoI requests to police forces over the years, some you get and some you don't but "national security" is a new one on me.

To make matters even murkier, Leicestershire claimed a second exemption because the information I requested could relate to "the Security bodies".

A quick look at the FoI Act reveals "Security bodies" are MI5, MI6, GCHQ (pictured above), special forces (such as the SAS) and the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

Hmm.

Despite claiming these exemptions, Leicestershire seem at pains to neither confirm nor deny they hold any information relevant to my request anyway.

Check out (slowly I suggest) the tortuous conclusion to the three page letter explaining their stance.

"It is our decision that the Leicestershire Constabulary must maintain a position of neither confirming nor denying that any relevant information is held and that this response, which neither confirms nor denies that information is held, should not be taken as conclusive evidence that the information you have requested exists or does not exist".

Jon Clements

Thanks, but I think that is a rather long-winded way of saying Foxtrot Oscar.

However, it does beg the question just who was bugging the McCanns after they returned from Praia da Luz?

And what has the answer got to do with national security

Fr. Z+ said:

"And what has the answer got to do with national security?"

The answer, of course, is "not a Foxtrotting thing". It has to do with national pride, and national embarrasment.

It's precisely the same sort of stonewalling done for years in the US when confronted with FoI (or as the Yanks say, FOI) cases.

And your bringing it to light will be seen as embarrassing the authorities... hearing any little 'clicks' when you you pick up the phone?

May 22, 2009 5:29 PM
 

Morag Hollinghurst said:

With reference to your article in todays Mirror on Colin Philpott P.5.

I can't believe how injust and out of date our legal system is. How could the Thameside Police arrest Colin Philpott who was only defending his family and property. What was he supposed to do - stand by and watch his family murdered! Mr Philpott deserves a medal for his courage, he and his family have worked hard to achieve what they have and should in no way be penalised. No wonder all the decent people are leaving this country.

When is the legal system going to be updated and the thugs and lowlife get their just desserts!

Well done Colin.

July 27, 2009 8:59 PM