DORSET Police has refused to reveal whether it has used controversial anti-terror laws to obtain journalists’ telephone records.

It claimed national security could be compromised when asked how many times it has used so-called RIPA powers to get information from the phone records of journalists, news organisations or the employees of news organ-isations.

It also cited Information Relating to Security Bodies, Investigations, Law Enforce-ment and Personal Infor-mation.

Freedom of Information (FOI) requests were made to forces across the UK and so far 34, including Dorset, have used exemptions including national security concerns and the cost of finding out the information as reasons for refusing to provide it.

The refusal comes despite intervention from a top government official ordering Chief Constables to provide the information requested.

Some forces have yet to reply to the FOI request but those that have answered the question have admitted using the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) thousands of times in the last 10 years.

The Home Office has now announced plans to re-examine RIPA powers amid concerns it is being used to identify journalists’ sources.

The FOI requests were made by The Press Gazette, the newspaper industry trade paper.

Dorset Police provided a five-page response in which it refused to give the information requested.

It said: “Dorset Police can neither confirm nor deny that it holds information pertinent to this request as the duty in Section 1 (1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 does not apply by virtue of the following exemptions.”

It goes on to say: “Any information identifying the focus of policing activity could be used to the advantage of terrorists or criminal organisations.”

And it adds: “By confirming or denying that information exists would compromise the effective delivery of opera-tional law enforcement. “Tactics could be compromised which could hinder the prevention and detection of crime. More crime could be committed and individuals placed at risk.”

The government’s Inter-ception of Communications Commissioner, Sir Paul Kennedy, said full details should be provided of the use of RIPA powers to identify journalistic sources.

Freedom of press implications

A STATEMENT issued on behalf of the Chief Constable, Debbie Simpson, said: “The use of Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act tactics is subject to thorough internal and external scrutiny.

“Each use requires approval by a senior officer and the Force’s use of these powers is also regularly scrutinised by the IOCCO (Interception of Communications Commissioner’s Office).

“RIPA is not designed to inhibit the freedom of the media nor is it specifically used for this purpose.

“The powers under RIPA do, however, allow the police to investigate cases of serious criminality and assist us to bring criminals to justice.

“As some of the tactics used under RIPA are covert, we will not discuss further details or confirm individual cases where they have been used, as this would affect our ability to investigate serious crimes.”

Dorset’s Police Commissioner, Martyn Underhill, said he believed such requests for access to the phone records should go to a judge, not a police officer “because of the implications for the freedom of the press”.

He added: “Clearly journalists are the bed rock of a free society, and should be treated differently.

“Watergate, the MPs expenses scandal, Hillsborough, the SDS and Plebgate, all reflect the need for free speech, let alone the impact on new whistleblowers if the law isn't changed.

“I support legislation to protect journalists.”