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Policeman 'pressured' to bug MP MP bug policeman's safety fears
(about 4 hours later)
An ex-police officer who allegedly bugged an MP's visit to a jailed constituent said the Met Police put him under "significant pressure" to do so. The ex-police officer who allegedly bugged an MP's visit to a jailed constituent says his life is "at risk" after the case was leaked to the media.
Former Thames Valley Police officer Mark Kearney, who faces charges over leaking stories, said he had felt it was not justified to bug MP Sadiq Khan. Mark Kearney, a former police intelligence officer at Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes, says he did not think it was right to bug MP Sadiq Khan.
Shadow home secretary David Davis said it was an "extraordinary allegation". But he claimed the Met Police put him under "significant pressure" to do so.
And it has emerged that officials in the Home Office and Ministry of Justice were told in December of the incident. Shadow home secretary David Davis said the case raised questions over "who is in charge" of surveillance in the UK.
He spoke out as it emerged that officials in the Home Office and Ministry of Justice were told in December of the incident.
Childhood friends
However, the BBC has learnt that Justice Secretary Jack Straw and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had not been aware until the Sunday Times reports emerged this weekend.
Mr Davis told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that it was apparent that Mr Straw and Ms Smith were "not in charge of their departments".
I'm shocked and disgusted by this leakage to the media - I believe it puts my life and safety at risk Mark KearneyEx-police officer Profile: Sadiq KhanQ&A: MP bugging row
"Why was this allowed to happen without any ministerial knowledge?" he asked.
"Why, when it was discovered in December, they didn't tell Jack Straw or Jacqui Smith?"
The conversations alleged to have been recorded took place in 2005 and 2006 at Woodhill Prison.
They were between Mr Khan and Babar Ahmad - a constituent and childhood friend - who is in prison awaiting extradition to the US.
He is accused there of running websites supporting the Taleban and Chechen terrorists, though he faces no charges in the UK.
'Significant pressure''Significant pressure'
But BBC political editor Nick Robinson said ministers in charge had not been aware until the Sunday Times reports emerged this weekend. Former Thames Valley Police sergeant Mr Kearney, who was working at the jail, faces charges - unrelated to the bugging claims - of leaking information to a local newspaper.
David Davis, the shadow home secretary, said it showed that Justice Secretary Jack Straw was out of control of his department. He told the BBC he was "shocked and disgusted" that the case had been leaked to the media.
He said it was "beyond belief that the department would not flag up to a minister" that long-standing guidelines had been broken within the department.
"It now appears that Mr. Straw is in as little control of his department as the home secretary is of hers," he said.
The debate now will focus on whether political surveillance is returning, or whether MPs - like us all - should be liable to be bugged if there is a perceived threat to national security. BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full The debate now will focus on whether political surveillance is returning, or whether MPs - like us all - should be liable to be bugged if there is a perceived threat to national security. BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full
Former sergeant Mr Kearney was an intelligence officer working at Woodhill Prison where Babar Ahmad was being held, facing extradition to the US. "I believe it puts my life and safety at risk," he said. "I would also like to say I am quite prepared to cooperate with any inquiry so it can reach a proper conclusion."
Mr Ahmad faces no charges in the UK but the US suspects him of running websites supporting the Taleban and Chechen rebels, hence the extradition request. In a statement prepared by his solicitors, Mr Kearney said there was "significant pressure from the Metropolitan Police requesting that we covertly record a social visit between a terrorist detainee and a member of Parliament".
Mr Kearney faces charges - unrelated to the bugging claims - of leaking information to a local newspaper and in a statement prepared by his solicitors he said there was "significant pressure from the Metropolitan Police requesting that we covertly record a social visit between a terrorist detainee and a member of Parliament". "The MP concerned was Sadiq Khan ... I did record the visit but have never felt it was justified in these circumstances," he said.
"The MP concerned was Sadiq Khan ... I did record the visit but have never felt it was justified in these circumstances." Mr Straw announced on Monday that Chief Surveillance Commissioner Sir Christopher Rose is to head an inquiry into the allegations.
'Much wider' He said Sir Christopher, a former Court of Appeal judge, would try to find out under whose authority any bugging was carried out and would present his findings within two weeks.
Shadow home secretary David Davis told the BBC: "If true this is an extraordinary allegation. It suggests that the decision to bug Sadiq Khan was much wider than just some junior or middle ranking officers in one police force."
Mr Khan, who made his name as a human rights lawyer before becoming an MP in 2005, is Mr Ahmad's local MP and a childhood friend.
Nick Robinson said the development raised questions about whether Mr Khan's visit "just happened" to be bugged or whether police were particularly interested in him, given that visits by some other people to Mr Ahmad had not come under similar surveillance.
Sadiq Khan has welcomed Justice Secretary Jack Straw's inquiry Profile: Sadiq KhanQ&A: MP bugging row
The BBC has also learnt that officials in the Home Office and Ministry of Justice were told in December that a Labour MP had been bugged - but the justice secretary and home secretary had not been told.
On Sunday Mr Khan - now a government whip - said he had no idea he might have been bugged and was pleased Mr Straw had announced a swift inquiry.
On Monday, Justice Secretary Jack Straw was called to the Commons to explain the apparent breach of the 40-year-old rule that MPs are not bugged and he insisted it still stood.
In a statement, Mr Straw said the Chief Surveillance Commissioner Sir Christopher Rose would head an inquiry to establish under whose authority any alleged bugging was carried out.
Wilson DoctrineWilson Doctrine
He is due to report back in two weeks. Mr Straw added that a chief police officer had to authorise eavesdropping operations, adding that "ministers play no part in these authorisations". Mr Straw insisted that a chief police officer had to authorise eavesdropping operations, adding that "ministers play no part in these authorisations".
Police are entitled to monitor prisoners' communications but such operations must first be approved by the surveillance commissioner who considers them on a case-by-case basis.Police are entitled to monitor prisoners' communications but such operations must first be approved by the surveillance commissioner who considers them on a case-by-case basis.
However, a code known as the Wilson Doctrine forbids the covert recording of conversations between MPs and their constituents.However, a code known as the Wilson Doctrine forbids the covert recording of conversations between MPs and their constituents.
On Sunday Mr Khan - now a government whip - said he had no idea he might have been bugged and was pleased Mr Straw had announced a swift inquiry.