Police accused of ‘flagrant breach’ of code of conduct over Damian Green case
2 min read
A senior Tory MP has accused former detectives investigating the contents of Damian Green's parliamentary computer of acting like part of a "police state".
Former attorney general Dominic Grieve said their actions were in “flagrant breach” of the police’s code of conduct.
However, a former chief constable told the BBC the information was in the public interest.
Theresa May’s second in command denies watching or downloading pornography on his computer at work.
Detective Neil Lewis said “thousands” of thumbnail images of legal pornography were found on a laptop in Mr Green’s office when it was raided in 2008 as part of an investigation into leaks.
Speaking on Newsnight, Mr Grieve, who served as attorney general from 2010 to 2014, criticised the emergence of allegations against Mr Green through the media.
"They chose to put material that an ordinary citizen would be prohibited from acquiring under data protection rules into the public domain on their own judgment.
"If you think something is relevant you do it by proper official means. You do not go freelancing as these two officers have done and it has the smack of the police state about it.
"We give the police powers that other people do not have. They are not and must not be allowed to abuse those powers."
Appearing on the same programme, former Gloucestershire chief constable Tim Brain defended the officers, saying they had come forward with what they considered "relevant information" to an ongoing inquiry.
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