BRITISH MINISTERS faced demands last night for legal changes to protect public officials who leak material embarrassing to the government as the secrets case against Damian Green, the Tory shadow immigration spokesman, was thrown out by prosecutors.
After a £5m (€5.6m), five-month police investigation, the crown prosecution service said yesterday there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Mr Green or Christopher Galley, a Home Office civil servant, as information leaked to Mr Green was not secret, did not affect national security or put lives at risk. The collapse of the inquiry represented a humiliation for Jacqui Smith, the home secretary and raised concerns that police are using the charge of misconduct in public office to silence whistleblowers.
The government faces further embarrassment today with the publication of a police report into the methods used to raid Mr Green’s home and office which is expected to criticise aspects of the arrests and searches. – (Guardian service)