This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7230669.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bug row officer makes new claim | Bug row officer makes new claim |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| The ex-police officer at the centre of the row over the bugging of an MP claims he was asked to listen to a second legally privileged conversation. | The ex-police officer at the centre of the row over the bugging of an MP claims he was asked to listen to a second legally privileged conversation. |
| Mark Kearney says he was asked to eavesdrop on a conversation between a terror suspect and his solicitor during a visit at Woodhill Prison. | Mark Kearney says he was asked to eavesdrop on a conversation between a terror suspect and his solicitor during a visit at Woodhill Prison. |
| He makes the allegations in documents obtained by the BBC's Newsnight. | He makes the allegations in documents obtained by the BBC's Newsnight. |
| He also says he was pressurised by the Metropolitan Police to bug MP Sadiq Khan when he met a constituent. | He also says he was pressurised by the Metropolitan Police to bug MP Sadiq Khan when he met a constituent. |
| The former police intelligence officer at the Milton Keynes prison said he was put under pressure by a West Midlands police officer to listen to the second conversation. | The former police intelligence officer at the Milton Keynes prison said he was put under pressure by a West Midlands police officer to listen to the second conversation. |
| The prisoner was not actually at Woodhill at the time, but the police officer wanted to know if he could be transferred there so the recording could take place. | The prisoner was not actually at Woodhill at the time, but the police officer wanted to know if he could be transferred there so the recording could take place. |
| The detailed documents, obtained by BBC East home affairs correspondent Sally Chidzoy, were prepared for an unrelated case in which he is fighting allegations of leaking information to a local newspaper. | The detailed documents, obtained by BBC East home affairs correspondent Sally Chidzoy, were prepared for an unrelated case in which he is fighting allegations of leaking information to a local newspaper. |
| 'Significant pressure' | 'Significant pressure' |
| Mr Kearney said he told the West Midlands officer he was unhappy at being asked to record conversations between a solicitor and client, which he knew were legally privileged. | Mr Kearney said he told the West Midlands officer he was unhappy at being asked to record conversations between a solicitor and client, which he knew were legally privileged. |
| He said: "I told him that we, as an establishment, would be reluctant to carry out such work. The consequences of discovery would undermine the whole legal visits process." | He said: "I told him that we, as an establishment, would be reluctant to carry out such work. The consequences of discovery would undermine the whole legal visits process." |
| The document also details his claim he was pressured to bug the meeting between Tooting MP Sadiq Khan and his constituent Babar Ahmad. | The document also details his claim he was pressured to bug the meeting between Tooting MP Sadiq Khan and his constituent Babar Ahmad. |
| Mr Ahmad is fighting deportation to the US on charges of raising funds for terror groups. | Mr Ahmad is fighting deportation to the US on charges of raising funds for terror groups. |
| Mr Kearney said he "came under significant pressure from the Metropolitan Police requesting that we covertly record a social visit between a (suspected) terrorist detainee and an MP". "This was authorised by the Metropolitan Police," he added. | |
| 'Very reluctant' | 'Very reluctant' |
| "This request was very difficult. The MP concerned was Sadiq Khan, the member for Tooting. Mr Khan is a prominent human rights lawyer. This concerned me on the grounds that the recording may cross the barriers of legal privilege." | "This request was very difficult. The MP concerned was Sadiq Khan, the member for Tooting. Mr Khan is a prominent human rights lawyer. This concerned me on the grounds that the recording may cross the barriers of legal privilege." |
| Mr Kearney also says he was asked by the Serious Organised Crime Agency to allow access to a woman's handbag when she visited a 'Category A' prisoner. | Mr Kearney also says he was asked by the Serious Organised Crime Agency to allow access to a woman's handbag when she visited a 'Category A' prisoner. |
| He said he consulted the prison's deputy governor on the matter and they allowed it to happen twice despite being very reluctant to do so. | He said he consulted the prison's deputy governor on the matter and they allowed it to happen twice despite being very reluctant to do so. |
| Mr Kearney said the governor "conceded that it was necessary but left me in no doubt that if there was a compromise, then it would be my responsibility. | Mr Kearney said the governor "conceded that it was necessary but left me in no doubt that if there was a compromise, then it would be my responsibility. |
| "Items such as keys, sim cards and financial paperwork were copied whilst the visits took place". | "Items such as keys, sim cards and financial paperwork were copied whilst the visits took place". |