THAMES Valley Police have again refused to reveal to the public how many journalists it has snooped on using anti-terrorism laws.

The force twice last month refused to say how often it had used the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) to try to discover journalists’ sources, claiming it would be too much effort to trawl through its records.

But following the launch of a national inquiry into the use of RIPA, Thames Valley has now compiled the information and given it to Interception of Communications Commissioner Sir Paul Kennedy.

The force has previously admitted using RIPA when it bugged the meeting of local newspaper reporter Sally Murrer and an officer in 2006.

This week the Oxford Mail again asked for the full records now they have been gathered for Sir Paul, but Thames Valley Police refused. The force said it would treat the request under the Freedom of Information Act, which gives it another four weeks before it has to act.

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Last night Thames Valley Police were told to ‘stop hiding behind a smoke screen’ and release the information publicly.

Bob Satchwell, executive director of the Society of Editors, said RIPA could be misused against the public just as it had against journalists.

He said: “This legislation was intended for serious crimes – murder and terrorism – but people now seem to think it’s perfectly alright to use it for anything. (Police) should not use it for ‘fishing’ expeditions.

Oxford Mail:

Bob Satchwell

“It seems the number of times it has been used by police forces suggests they are not always applying very careful consideration to its use.

“If Thames Valley Police has given this information to the regulatory authority, why not make it public? They should come clean and not have a smoke screen about it.”

Police spokeswoman Michelle Campbell said: “At this stage it would be inappropriate for Thames Valley Police to provide these details ahead of formal publication from IOCCO.”

Thames Valley Police has refused two requests under the FoI Act, claiming it would be too expensive to collate it.

Journalism industry website Press Gazette reported the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) had given guidance to all forces – including Thames Valley – that they could use the argument of cost to reject such requests or claim one of national security.

ACPO’s national co-ordinator for serious and organised crime Mick Creedon has told MPs RIPA “absolutely” could be used to secretly obtain journalists’ phone records as part of an inquiry into a leak.

Oxford Mail:

Sajid Javid

But Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said on Tuesday: “RIPA was passed to help with the fight against serious criminal wrongdoing, not to impede fair and legitimate journalism, no matter how awkward that journalism may be for police officers and local councils.”

Ms Murrer’s barrister Gavin Millar said the request for authorisation to bug her meeting did not mention her occupation, “a startling omission because the right of the journalist to protect the identity of such a source is strongly protected in our law and in European Human Rights law”.

The case against her collapsed when it was ruled this evidence was obtained in violation of fundamental journalistic rights, he said.

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