07/02/2013

Former Police Constable Charged Over Misconduct

A former police constable with Surrey Police is to be charged with two offences of committing misconduct in public office over allegations he sold information to the Sun newspaper.

The charges are being brought as part of Operation Elveden, which is investigating inappropriate and illegal payments between journalists and police.

In a statement by the Crown Prosecution Service, it is alleged that in 2009, Alan Tierney provided information to The Sun newspaper on two occasions and was paid £1,750.

Alison Levitt QC, Principal Legal Advisor to the Director of Public Prosecutions, is overseeing all potential prosecutions in relation to the ongoing phone hacking investigations.

Ms Levitt said: "This statement is made in the interests of transparency and accountability to explain the decisions reached in respect of cases arising from Operation Elveden, which is the Metropolitan Police Service investigation into allegations involving the unlawful provision of information by public officials to journalists.

"The first charge relates to an allegation that Mr Tierney provided details to the newspaper about a shoplifting incident in which he was the arresting officer.

"The second charge relates to an occasion on which Mr Tierney took a statement from a witness to a domestic violence incident. It is alleged that Mr Tierney passed the witness's name, address and details of the incident to the newspaper.

"Both of these incidents were linked to high profile people."

The statement continued: "Accordingly, we have authorised the institution of proceedings and Mr Tierney will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on a date to be determined."

(IT)

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