THAMES Valley Police has once again refused to confirm or deny whether it used anti-terrorism laws to spy on journalists.

It said it would not reveal whether it misused the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) to snoop on journalists, despite this time admitting it would be in the public interest to do so.

The force previously refused to respond to Freedom of Information requests from the Oxford Mail, claiming it had been asked "too many times" and labelling the paper "vexatious".

TVP said it did hold the information relevant to the request, but refused to say what that was.

After an Oxford Mail appeal to the information watchdog – the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) – it was ruled Thames Valley Police was wrong to reject the enquiry. 

The ICO ordered the force to either reveal it had used anti-terror laws to spy on journalists or come up with new reasons to keep the information secret.

Despite the ruling, the force has refused to give details of its use of RIPA – originally intended to fight terrorism and organised crime – by claiming law enforcement would be compromised if it did so.

Thames Valley Police said revealing whether it had used the law "would help subjects avoid detection", something it said was also relevant to journalists or news organisation employees "likely to be committing offences under their remit."

The Oxford Mail will be taking the issue back to the ICO.

In 2006 the force used the powers to bug the car of Milton Keynes Citizen journalist Sally Murrer to find the source of leaked stories.

In February this year it was revealed 19 forces across the country had used the powers to trawl the communication records of journalists.

In the response sent to the Oxford Mail by the force's senior public access manager Jason Russell, he wrote: "Disclosing information held would undermine ongoing investigations, reveal policing techniques and risk the identification of individuals.

"If the police service were to disclose information, other covert surveillance tactics will either be compromised or significantly weakened.

"In this case there is no requirement to satisfy any public concern over the legality of police operations and the tactics we may or may not use."

Mr Russell admitted releasing the information would allow the public to better scrutinise RIPA and would ensure anyone affected by RIPA investigations would be able to take steps to protect sources or other journalistic material.

He also admitted there was a public interest in people knowing that policing activity, particularly when RIPA is used, is "appropriate and balanced".

But he said this would only be released in "exceptional circumstances."

He also claimed witnesses and victims in investigations could be identified if the information was released.

Society of Editors executive director Bob Satchwell said: "This is Thames Valley Police playing silly games. They should release the information or people will just wonder what they have got to hide."

Thames Valley Police spokeswoman Michelle Campbell tonight said: "In order to prevent and detect crime, Thames Valley Police (TVP) officers require evidence from a number of sources, some of which are covert.

"RIPA (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act) regulates a range of investigatory powers including surveillance.

"RIPA is designed to ensure the powers are used in a way that is compatible with the European Convention of Human Rights.

"Covert activities vary in the level of authorisation required. The more intrusive the tactics the higher the level of authority required.

"Any RIPA Authorising Officer needs to satisfy that all applications meet the criteria laid out within the legislation outlining in their authorisation how the activity is both Necessary and Proportionate.

"Applications for Communications data do not specify the occupation of the subjects.

"Thames Valley Police can confirm it holds information in relation to FOI request HQ/PA/001820/15; however we are not confirming or denying that the Force has used RIPA to access information / records about journalist and who they are contacting."

WHAT INFORMATION THE OXFORD MAIL ASKED FOR:

In relation to the IOCCO report:

  • Confirm or deny if TVP are one of the 19 forces that has used RIPA to access information/records about journalists and who they contact.
  • If it is a confirmation, how many cases.
  • What is the breakdown amongst journalists - national, regional/local/freelances.