Commons raid WAS lawful, insists Yard.Byline: By GAVIN CORDON cor·don n. 1. A line of people, military posts, or ships stationed around an area to enclose or guard it. 2. A cord or braid worn as a fastening or ornament. 3. THE rift between police and Parliament deepened tonight as Scotland Yard Scotland Yard, headquarters of the London Metropolitan Police. The term is often used, popularly, to refer to one branch, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Named after a short street in London, the site of a palace used in the 12th cent. insisted that its raid on the Commons office of Tory MP Damian Green was carried out in full compliance with the law. Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick, the senior officer in charge of the Home Office leaks investigation, said his officers made clear to the House authorities that they needed their consent as they did not have a search warrant. His comments appeared to directly contradict con·tra·dict v. con·tra·dict·ed, con·tra·dict·ing, con·tra·dicts v.tr. 1. To assert or express the opposite of (a statement). 2. To deny the statement of. See Synonyms at deny. Commons Speaker Michael Martin Michael Martin may refer to:
n. Chiefly British Variant of sergeant. serjeant Noun same as sergeant Noun 1. at Arms, Jill Pay, that she was not obliged to agree to the search. In a further twist, Mr Green challenged Scotland Yard's assertion that he was arrested on suspicion of "counselling or procuring" misconduct in a public office when he was held for nine hours last week. He said those words did not appear on his arrest warrant. Amid angry scenes in the Commons, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith defended the decision to call in the police, arguing that the "systematic" leaking of sensitive Home Office documents could threaten national security. However, shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve Dominic Charles Roberts Grieve (born May 24, 1956) British politician and barrister. He is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Beaconsfield and is the shadow Attorney General and one of the shadow Home Affairs spokesmen. claimed that the real motivation was the desire to protect the Government from political embarrassment. In a letter to the Home Secretary, Mr Quick said Metropolitan police officers met Ms Pay on Wednesday of last week to brief her that they would seek permission to search an MP's Commons office. They told her that a magistrate had already granted search warrants for three other premises in relation to the inquiry. "The officers explained the nature of the investigation and the purpose of the search and were satisfied that the Serjeant at Arms understood that police had no power to search in the absence of a warrant and therefore could only do so with her written consent or that of the Speaker," Mr Quick said. He said Ms Pay indicated she would give her consent at the "appropriate time" and that she would also take responsibility for informing the Speaker. The next day she signed a standard police search formand handed officers a letter agreeing to the search. The raid was carried out later that day. Earlier, Mrs Smith said officials were right to call in the police after a series of internal inquiries failed to identify the source ofwhat appeared to be "systematic" leaks over "a sustained period of time". She told MPs there had been particular concerns because of the kind of "sensitive issues, including national security" which the Home Office dealt with. The formal request for the police investigation was made by the Cabinet Office - as the department responsible for Whitehall security - on October 8. The inquiry is thought to be looking at a number of leaks, including the disclosure that 5,000 illegal immigrants were working as security guards and bouncers and a letter from Mrs Smith toMr Brown warning that the recession would spark a rise in crime. CAPTION(S): Home Secretary Jacqui Smith speaking in the Commons yesterday; top right Damian Green; above right, Speaker Martin |
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