{"id":26911,"date":"2011-09-16T16:58:28","date_gmt":"2011-09-16T15:58:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/?p=26911"},"modified":"2017-07-21T10:00:06","modified_gmt":"2017-07-21T09:00:06","slug":"index-condemns-outrageous-abuse-of-power-by-metropolitan-police-in-phone-hacking-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/newsite02may\/?p=26911","title":{"rendered":"Index condemns abuse of power by Met Police in phone-hacking probe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Index on Censorship is appalled by reports that the Metropolitan Police is seeking a court order under the Official Secrets Act to force Guardian journalists to reveal sources in the phone-hacking scandal investigation.<\/p>\n

Index on Censorship Chief Executive John Kampfner commented: “Scotland Yard\u2019s outrageous and unjustified attempt to force the Guardian to reveal its sources in its phone hacking investigation is a direct attack on a free press. This is a shocking move to intimidate the media using the Official Secrets Act, one of the state’s most draconian pieces of legislation.<\/p>\n

The Guardian is to be praised for pursuing the phone hacking case where the Metropolitan police failed — and for exposing the extent of the scandal. Protection of sources is a crucial tenet of investigative journalism and must be respected.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

INDEX ON CENSORSHIP LETTER TO METROPOLITAN POLICE COMMISSIONER<\/a>