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Met tapped senior officer's calls Met tapped senior officer's calls
(about 4 hours later)
The Metropolitan Police unlawfully tapped phonecalls of one of their own senior officers, the BBC has learned. The Metropolitan Police unlawfully tapped phone calls of one of their own senior officers, the BBC has learned.
The force listened to calls made by Chief Superintendent Ali Dizaei, legal adviser to the National Black Police Association (NBPA).The force listened to calls made by Chief Superintendent Ali Dizaei, legal adviser to the National Black Police Association (NBPA).
The interception was ruled unlawful by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.The interception was ruled unlawful by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.
The NPBA said the tapping included calls when Mr Dizaei gave advice to black and Asian colleagues in dispute with their own forces.The NPBA said the tapping included calls when Mr Dizaei gave advice to black and Asian colleagues in dispute with their own forces.
Mr Dizaei has not commented on the ruling but a spokesman for the NBPA said that it would be seeking compensation for members. It said Mr Dizaei's calls were tapped during Operation Helios, in which the Met recorded 3,500 private conversations.
'No lawful grounds' This was an investigation into Mr Dizaei, who was under suspicion of being corrupt. He was cleared of all charges brought against him.
The Met has told the BBC that officers are assessing implications of the tribunal's findings. The wire tap complaints were brought by the NBPA because they felt that some calls were legally privileged.
The BBC's Barnie Choudhury said that amid the legal language of the tribunal's ruling, "one uncomfortable phrase stands out" - that there were "no lawful grounds for the private intercepts". Mr Dizaei has not commented on the ruling but a spokesman for the association said it would be seeking compensation for members.
That means the Met unlawfully tapped private phonecalls made by Mr Dizaei while at work. 'Embarrassment'
The NBPA says Mr Dizaei's calls were tapped during a police investigation called Operation Helios - during it the Met recorded 3,500 private calls. The Metropolitan Police said it was reviewing the findings of the tribunal.
Our correspondent said the case was an embarrassment for the Met, which was accused of being "institutional racist" during the Stephen Lawrence inquiry. The Metropolitan Police Authority also said it would be "urgently" examining the ruling.
A spokesman said: "The findings of unlawful action by the police service itself is of great concern.
"The MPA will want to be satisfied that individuals are held to account for any wrongdoing and that action is taken to prevent any recurrence of illegal interception."
Shami Chakrabarti, director of human rights organisation Liberty, said: "Telephone tapping is a vital crime-fighting tool, but there is far too much scope for abuses within the current system."
The BBC's Barnie Choudhury said the case was an embarrassment for the Met, which was accused of being "institutionally racist" during the Stephen Lawrence inquiry.