Tory MP arrested

[ace00]

Bullies.

Stiff upper lip now. Don't let them see you cry man. Those big bi-bullies.

[Doggy Styles]

Sky News says he was arrested under the Official Secrets Act.

I thought the Criminal Justice Act introduced the charges of "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office" and "aiding and abetting misconduct in public office", but I may be mistaken.

Apologies, they were the charges being speculated, I didn't know they were under the Criminal Justice Act.

I was listening to David Davies this morning saying the information wasn't classified under the Official Secrets Act - but in hindsight he's a politician so...

[tay]

Stiff upper lip now. Don't let them see you cry man. Those big bi-bullies.

Thanks! Good point!

[ratewhore]

I was listening to David Davies this morning saying the information wasn't classified under the Official Secrets Act - but in hindsight he's a politician so...

I don't remember seeing anything related to 'information the government of the day doesn't want to tell the public because it's politically embarassing' when I've signed the OSA.

[Purple Dalek]

I don't remember seeing anything related to 'information the government of the day doesn't want to tell the public because it's politically embarassing' when I've signed the OSA.

They gave you the time to read it before you signed it? Where was that?

[ratewhore]

They gave you the time to read it before you signed it? Where was that?

Can't tell you. I'd have to kill you but, as you're a dalek, I'll just pull out your batteries instead...

[Moscow Mule]

I don't remember seeing anything related to 'information the government of the day doesn't want to tell the public because it's politically embarassing' when I've signed the OSA.

You can't tell us that.

[OwlHoot]

There's an interesting comment in the Guardian "have your say" on this:

.. So why did the Met arrest Green? Why not ask him to attend an interview at the police station to answer questions, like they do with many other suspects in criminal matters?

Simple. Unless someone has been arrested for an indictable offence - i.e. an offence that can be heard in the Crown Court - the police can't search their premises under s.18 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.

It seems quite clear to me that someone, somewhere, was worried about what else Green might have that would embarrass them. The Cabinet Office needed to find a way to search his premises within the law, so they had to find a trumped-up charge that would fit the bill and get him arrested for it to seize any other "sensitive" documents he might be in possession of and put them out of harm's way.

That sounds the most plausible of the theories I've heard.

[Bob Dalek]

There's an interesting comment in the Guardian "have your say" on this:



That sounds the most plausible of the theories I've heard.

I agree. The Anti-Terrorism Laws are, it has to be said, bloody fantastic!:

Legal hoops to jump through?
Bothersome MPs or anyone else, for that matter?
Fancy a shufty around someone's house without having just cause?

Anti-Terrorism Law to the rescue!

[Peoplesoft bloke]

I don't remember seeing anything related to 'information the government of the day doesn't want to tell the public because it's politically embarassing' when I've signed the OSA.

Nor me, but that's exactly how it was used in the 80s fair takes me back it does.