Damien Green affair, again

It has now emerged that when the police went to arrange Damien Green some or all of them were wearing concealed recording equipment.

In criminal cases the police are required to inform accused that an interview is being recorded. Indeed, there is nothing clandestine at all, - the machine is operated in full view of the accused and his counsel.

The only occasion when secret recording is used is in cases involving national security, especially when arresting suspected terrorists. This seems to reinforce the impression given by using security officers and not "ordinary" police. It reinforces the impression that the police acted on the assumption that national security was involved.

Who informed and assured them that national security was involved, and that it was not yet another "leak "? Was the reference to national security made to persuade the police generally to act when they had become reluctant to investigate ordinary leaks?


If it was a senior civil servant acting on his own behalf, this would be serious. If he or she was acting on the instructions of a member of the government, then it would be very serious.