Journalist bailed in probe into police leaks

LONDON (Reuters) - Police have bailed five people, including a journalist, arrested on Tuesday as part of an investigation into the alleged leaking to the media of sensitive police information.

The five also include two police officers and a soldier.

No details of the nature of the leaked material were immediately available but Thames Valley Police said their joint investigation with Hertfordshire Constabulary did not concern information relating to the army or any military operations.

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One of the police officers arrested is from the Thames Valley force, the other is from Hertfordshire. Both were arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

A 52-year-old Hertfordshire man, a soldier from Cambridgeshire and a journalist from Thames Valley were arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office, Thames Valley Police said.

The journalist, who works part-time for the Milton Keynes Citizen, was arrested at home and the newspaper's offices were also raided. According to the newspaper's owner, Johnston Press, a number of documents and a computer were removed from the premises by the police.

Johnston Press, which declined to name the journalist involved, said it was given no prior notice of the search on Tuesday morning. In a statement it said that the investigation could involve other newspapers outside its group.

"Police told Johnston Press that they are investigating allegations of police corruption and the leakage of confidential police information, that they had already arrested a Thames Valley Police officer and that the investigation also involves other media owners," the company said.

A spokeswoman for Thames Valley Police said on Friday all those arrested had been released on police bail.

 
 
Date Posted: 11 May 2007 Last Modified: 11 May 2007