6 February 2008
The Prime Minister has accepted the recommendations of an independent report on the possible use of intercept material, such as phone-tapped conversations, as evidence in criminal cases.
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In a statement to the House of Commons, the PM said that the Government would look at ways of using intercept evidence as advised by the Chilcot Report. Guidelines would be drawn up to ensure that the interests of national security were never compromised, he said.
The PM said:
“The use of intercept in evidence characterises a central dilemma we face as a free society - that of preserving our liberties and the rule of law, while at the same time keeping our nation safe and secure.
“[The Chilcot Report] concludes that it should be possible to find a way to use some intercept material as evidence, provided - and only provided - that certain key conditions can be met. These conditions relate to the most vital imperative of all - that of safeguarding our national security. The Government accepts this recommendation - and takes the accompanying conditions very seriously.”
The PM said that “extensive work” was now required to ensure that a complex set of conditions around the use of intercept evidence could be met. These conditions include giving intercepting agencies control over whether their material is used in prosecutions and protecting the current close cooperation between intelligence and law enforcement agencies, he said.
The Government would also ensure that technological changes were accounted for through an Interception Modernisation Programme.
Mr Brown stressed that the practice of intercept remains subject to strict controls, laid down in legislation in 2000, with figures released on an annual basis. In the final nine months of 2006 a total of 1,435 intercept warrants were issued, he said.
Image copyright: Reuters
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