MPS could withhold private eye dossier
PUBLICATION of a list of bluechip companies who hired corrupt private detectives could be halted after MPs were put under huge pressure by police and the Information Commissioner.
Westminster’s home affairs committee was due to publish the dossier, which contains the name of X Factor millionaire Simon Cowell, later today.
But, after sustained pressure from the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca), the Metropolitan Police and Information Commissioner Sir Christopher Graham, MPs are set for further talks on whether to proceed.
Members want to debate Sir Christopher’s claim that, by publishing the list of 102 names compiled by Soca, they could scupper ongoing criminal inquiries.
It could mean the list not being published until later this week – or being delayed further in what is already a long-running saga. At least 33 names have already leaked out, including that of Mr Cowell.
Last week, committee chairman Keith Vaz said it was in the ‘public interest’ to identify those firms and individuals who have paid private detectives convicted of corrupt practices.
But – since the committee delivered an ultimatum for Soca to publish the list by today, or they would – they have been bombarded by letters from Establishment figures. Those demanding the list should not be published include Leader of the Commons Andrew Lansley, justice committee chairman Sir Alan Beith and defence committee chairman Tory James Arbuthnot.
A range of different arguments have been deployed to try to persuade Mr Vaz to think again.
Sir Christopher, who is understood to have spoken to Mr Vaz in recent days, said: ‘It’s not clever to start a criminal investigation by publishing the names of everyone and everything you’re investigating.’
The dossier row came amid revelations that a second list of 118 private and business clients of jailed private detectives has been sent to the committee by police ‘ on a strictly confidential basis’ It originates from Operation Barbatus, an investigation into a group of former police officers who worked as private i nvestigators and were involved in telephone and computer hacking.
Police have been keen to stress that the presence of a name on the Soca list does not amount to evidence of criminality or wrongdoing.
They say that many clients of rogue investigators did not commission i nformation- gathering activities or will not have been aware that the private eyes broke the law to obtain information.
Max Clifford, Mr Cowell’s media spokesman, said that he was surprised that the X Factor host’s name was on the list.