Met Drops Guardian Court Case Over Sources

BethPH
By BethPH Last edited 150 months ago
Met Drops Guardian Court Case Over Sources


The Met has abandoned its legal bid to force the Guardian to reveal its sources over the phone hacking scandal.

Scotland Yard claimed that the newspaper could have been in breach of the Official Secrets Act by publishing the Milly Dowler phone hacking story – a story which they believe may jeopardise ongoing investigations. They subsequently demanded that the Guardian disclose their sources, an action which didn't meet with a great deal of approval in the media, with even the Daily Mail springing to the defence of their arch-enemy. After a meeting with the Crown Prosecution Service, the police elected not to pursue legal action. A statement from Scotland Yard said:

'Despite recent media reports there was no intention to target journalists or disregard journalists' obligations to protect their sources.'

Which is a tad disingenuous when you consider that the Met cannot have been unaware that their success in this case would have set a rather convenient precedent and did, in fact, target journalists and their protection of sources.

News International is reported to have offered a £3m settlement to Milly Dowler's family, which includes a £1m charity donation.

Last Updated 20 September 2011