Brown Backs Bugging Evidence In Court

Gordon Brown today gave his backing to the limited use of evidence gained from the bugging of suspects to be used in court, following an independent review.

The Chilcot report says phone tap evidence was needed in some cases in England and Wales for security reasons.

Sir John Chilcot was asked last July to lead an independent review on this contentious issue which is sure to spark debate among civil rights groups, the prosecution service, and the police.

Mr Brown told MPs detailed plans would now be drawn up to implement the report findings "as soon as possible".

He announced the setting up of a cross-party group, chaired by Sir John Chilcot, to enforce the report's findings - provided nine detailed tests were met.

These included the potential cost of transcribing phone conversations and emails and any impact on the co-operation between intelligence agencies and police.

Britain is one of the few western countries which does not admit such evidence in court. Opponents of changes include MI5, MI6 and GCHQ, who have argued that it would reveal their sophisticated intercept techniques.

However, the parliamentary intelligence and security committee said last week the agencies were "adamant that their intercept capabilities must not be disclosed in court".

Some Whitehall officials also fear any change would be vulnerable to challenge in the courts on human rights grounds.

The move came as Brown and the Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, continued to face criticism over allegations that a government whip, Sadiq Khan, was bugged when he visited Babar Ahmed, a childhood friend and terror suspect, in prison.

(GC)