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Straw pressed on jail 'bugging' Straw pressed on jail 'bugging'
(20 minutes later)
Jack Straw is facing fresh demands to state which police officers authorised the alleged regular bugging of lawyer-client discussions in prisons.Jack Straw is facing fresh demands to state which police officers authorised the alleged regular bugging of lawyer-client discussions in prisons.
The Liberal Democrats are urging the justice secretary to give a statement after the House of Commons recess.The Liberal Democrats are urging the justice secretary to give a statement after the House of Commons recess.
They want a full inquiry into claims bugging was extensive, systematic and routine and into how much ministers knew of what was going on.They want a full inquiry into claims bugging was extensive, systematic and routine and into how much ministers knew of what was going on.
The Tories also want a probe into new claims hundreds of lawyers are bugged.The Tories also want a probe into new claims hundreds of lawyers are bugged.
'Policy disaster'
The Daily Telegraph, quoting an unnamed source, said on Saturday that conversations between prisoners and their lawyers were routinely being recorded across the UK.The Daily Telegraph, quoting an unnamed source, said on Saturday that conversations between prisoners and their lawyers were routinely being recorded across the UK.
'Policy disaster'
Extensive bugging may now lead to the quashing of unsafe convictions Chris HuhneLib Dem home affairs spokesmanExtensive bugging may now lead to the quashing of unsafe convictions Chris HuhneLib Dem home affairs spokesman
An inquiry is already under way into earlier claims Labour MP Sadiq Khan's visits to Woodhill prison were secretly recorded.
But shadow Home Secretary David Davis has called for a second, wider inquiry in the wake of the latest allegations.
Lawyers' conversations with clients in jail are legally protected. A leading QC has warned breaches of this protection could lead to serious offenders such as Soham murderer Ian Huntley being set free.Lawyers' conversations with clients in jail are legally protected. A leading QC has warned breaches of this protection could lead to serious offenders such as Soham murderer Ian Huntley being set free.
Geoffrey Robertson said: "The end result, if that is the case, is that these cases will have to be brought back to court and, in my view, the courts will react with such fury as a matter of principle, those whose conversations were bugged will have to be let out."Geoffrey Robertson said: "The end result, if that is the case, is that these cases will have to be brought back to court and, in my view, the courts will react with such fury as a matter of principle, those whose conversations were bugged will have to be let out."
Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne has now written to Mr Straw demanding he make clear the extent of the eavesdropping and ministers' knowledge of it.Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne has now written to Mr Straw demanding he make clear the extent of the eavesdropping and ministers' knowledge of it.
"Either ministers knew what was going on and were complicit in a wholesale undermining of the principle of lawyer-client confidentiality, or they have been so unaware of what is going on in their own departments as to connive unwittingly in a policy disaster," he said."Either ministers knew what was going on and were complicit in a wholesale undermining of the principle of lawyer-client confidentiality, or they have been so unaware of what is going on in their own departments as to connive unwittingly in a policy disaster," he said.
Police matterPolice matter
"Extensive bugging may now lead to the quashing of unsafe convictions, and also to ineffectiveness in bugging for serious terrorist incidents, which are likely to be an imminent threat to public security."Extensive bugging may now lead to the quashing of unsafe convictions, and also to ineffectiveness in bugging for serious terrorist incidents, which are likely to be an imminent threat to public security.
"This is a wholly counter-productive policy.""This is a wholly counter-productive policy."
The Ministry of Justice said such monitoring was a police matter and undertaken in line with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.The Ministry of Justice said such monitoring was a police matter and undertaken in line with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
But Mr Huhne said that appeared to contradict Mr Straw's assurance to the Commons last week that rules preventing such bugging were "rigorously enforced".But Mr Huhne said that appeared to contradict Mr Straw's assurance to the Commons last week that rules preventing such bugging were "rigorously enforced".
An inquiry is already under way into earlier claims a Labour MP's visits to Woodhill prison were secretly recorded. Chief Surveillance Commissioner Sir Christopher Rose is examining claims counter-terrorism officers secretly recorded Mr Khan's conversations with a constituent - terrorist suspect Babar Ahmad - in the Buckinghamshire prison in 2005 and 2006.
Counter-terrorism officers are said to have secretly recorded MP Sadiq Khan's conversations with a constituent - terrorist suspect Babar Ahmad - in the Buckinghamshire prison in 2005 and 2006.
His case sparked controversy because it was suggested it may have been in breach of the Wilson Doctrine, which bars the bugging of MPs.His case sparked controversy because it was suggested it may have been in breach of the Wilson Doctrine, which bars the bugging of MPs.