British Govt appoints phone-tap Watchdog

Press, 3 April 1980, Page 7

British Govt appoints phone-tap Watchdog

NZPA :'' 1 ' London A senior -judge is to’ be ordered by the. British ;Goy£ ernment to play* a- watchdog role in ...the., controversial, areas of telephone .tapping and letter opening.. - Thefmbve-' was? announced inVithts? House of Commons by/the"-Home Secretary (Mr williain Whitelaw) who said the': judge? /Who/ has not yet been appointed, ■'. would ensure,?.that(' t the /police;...and security/forces. did ;nbt. pVer? ride of the/public.Tliei;&judge’s ; ' .'.appointment came t .af ter/tbe/publication /of a White Paper on phone tappine yesterday. ' Tho; paper 'showsthat4H . warrants tb intercept phone calK were authorised by the ■ ‘ last? / year. was also given to ©pen 52 letters.

I Mr Whitelaw conceded I there had been a “modest I over-all increase”- i in the number of J; warrants '.approved but added: “Given the; very considerable growth in serious crime 7 and in particular the' development of the terrorist ‘threat'"during the intervening years, Lbelieve that the figures: demonstrate. that the;use-of.inter: ceptiorr ./continues-'. to be |ttghtlyipbritrolledi”/L' - 't': | Recent .allegations' bythe “New... Statesman” ; magazine that phone clapping had- in- ! creased at; an. alarming? rate l.heightened concernirt.-Brit-lairi-that’? the police Were not jlohger-seeking permission. • !. . But Mri Whitelaw said- the /figures ’ “provide reassurance.” ' The judge was being ap-

pointed because the Government has decided “that it would be desirable if there was a continuous independent check that interception was . being carried, out in accordance with the established purposes * and procedure's.” j His reports on tapping fartd mail interception will hot be . published,? however. He will, report /primarily /to the' Prime' Minister: but Parliament will be' told of “findings hf a general nature.” '. .The,.:'White Paper - said interception had averted serious;crime in Britain!: ? Over the 1 years a .number /of; . serious./ terrorist attacks and threats to .national.; security; wquldynpt have been countered had. it hot ’ beeh' for' the interception,” it said.