Holyrood probe urged into police spying claims

Unlawful: Allegation of illegal monitoring of journalists

A Holyrood committee is being urged to investigate allegations that Police Scotland has been involved in “illegally spying on journalists”.

The Liberal Democrats are demanding that the justice sub-committee on policing sets up a probe into the matter, with the Tories backing their call.

Labour has already lodged a motion at the Scottish Parliament demanding “full transparency from the Scottish Government about what exactly it knows regarding the allegations about spying on journalists and their sources”.

Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman Alison McInnes has written to the committee’s convener Christine Grahame, urging an inquiry.

It comes after the Sunday Herald alleged that Police Scotland is one of two forces in the UK which has illegally monitored communications between journalists and their contacts.

The Interception of Communications Commissioner’s Office (IOCCO) says it has “identified that two police forces had acquired communications data to identify the interactions between journalists and their sources without obtaining judicial approval”.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson stressed the Scottish Government is “firmly opposed to the unlawful monitoring of communications”, but added ministers had to “respect the IOCCO position” of not identifying the forces concerned.

Ms McInnes said First Minister Nicola Sturgeon “seemed concerned about GCHQ spying on MSPs but is silent on claims Police Scotland spied on journalists”.

The Liberal Democrat MSP stated: “Reports that Police Scotland has been involved in illegally spying on journalists threaten to sour public trust in our public institutions.

“The refusal of the national force and Scottish Government to confirm or deny Police Scotland’s involvement in this matter will only fuel concerns about a conspiracy of silence.”