Scotland Yard not pursuing production orders against Guardian

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The Guardian newspaper has been targeted by Scotland Yard as it had intended to take the Guardian newspaper to court on Friday.

The newspaper is alleged for revealing the information regarding missing schoolgirl Milly Dowler’s mobile phone’s hacking. And afterwards, Scotland Yard had forced the newspaper to disclose its source of information. After having it all discussed thoroughly with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the force has caste off its application for production orders against the newspaper. The main reason behind this decision is the heavy criticism that the force is facing against its attempt to make the Guardian, and one of its journalists, hand over information which would have lead to the revealing of the source of many of the newspaper’s phone hacking stories.

Yard’s such an attempt is questioned by various MPs, including the shadow culture secretary, Ivan Lewis. While, many national newspapers had condemned the Metropolitan Police’s apparent attack on press freedom through their leading articles against the force’s attempt. It is reported that the former Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith told the force’s decision to invoke the Official Secrets Act was “unusual” and could have threaten the press freedom.

After having this case discussed with many legal advisors, the Metropolitan Police has decided for not further pursuing the application for production orders. The order against the Guardian which was sought under the police and criminal evidence act, but the application revealed that potential offences may have been committed under the Official Secrets Act.

A serving detective on Operation Weeting, the Yard’s phone hacking investigation has been arrested in suspect of leaking information to the newspaper. The Scotland Yard has put forward their explanation through a statement that they have not intended to target journalists or disregard journalists’ obligations to protect their sources. But at the same time, it is unethical and unacceptable for police officers to leak information about any investigation, no matter how sensitive and high profile that can be as Operation Weeting.

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