Hundreds of prison visits 'bugged'
Saturday, 09 Feb 2008 14:42
Hundreds of confidential conversations may have been taped
Hundreds of lawyers may have been bugged while visiting clients in prison, according to a national newspaper.
The Daily Telegraph claims the bugging of Labour MP Sadiq Khan during two visits to Woodhill prison may be just one of many conversations that were routinely recorded.
A bugging policy is believed to have been introduced in the wake of the September 11th attacks in America and was to be used only on terrorist suspects and other serious criminals.
However an unnamed source close to the operation claims that as time went on the bugging became more widespread to include "other category A prisoners such as murderers".
Justice secretary Jack Straw has launched an investigation into the alleged bugging in the wake of Mr Khan's case. It now seems that process will have to take in to account hundreds of other incidents.
The source claimed although those in charge of the operation were uncomfortable recording the private contestations they were pressurised from superiors to continue the project.
"Every person who came in and saw these terrorist suspects was the subject of an eavesdropping operation," the source told the Telegraph.
Shadow home secretary David Davis is appalled that such covert recordings were allowed to proceed without ministerial approval.
He said: "It is inconceivable that this action has taken place without ministerial approval. It can put the trial at risk which means that serious crimes may go unpunished."
Last night a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said it would not be appropriate to for the prison service to question the police's decision to monitor particular prisoners, adding that individual cases would not be discussed at this time.