Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Garnier and Mark Pritchard

Tuesday 7th February 2012 Commons Chamber

[The Solicitor-General]

That must be a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions and Ms Levitt.

[Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con)]

Is it not the case that public confidence in both the Crown Prosecution Service and the police is absolutely vital? If so, does the Solicitor-General share my concern about the fact that we have had many arrests of journalists under Operation Elveden but only two arrests of police officers, and that the names of those police officers have remained unpublished? There seems to be one rule for the police and another rule for journalists.

[The Solicitor-General]

There is also another rule that the Law Officers do not tell the police what to do. It is entirely a matter for the police to deal with arrests. If matters come to their attention that need the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service, which the Attorney-General and I superintend, we will no doubt examine them.