Home Office quizzed on use of production orders against press

MPs have called on Home Office ministers to agree to a meeting with the National Union of Journalists to discuss the use of police production orders to obtain journalistic material.

Carmarthen East MP Jonathan Edwards and Luton North MP Kelvin Hopkins used Home Office question time in the House of Commons yesterday to raise the issue of police forcing the media to hand over footage.

Their questions came after the BBC, ITN and Sky News were last week granted permission to appeal against an Essex police production order granted in February which would force them to hand over footage taken during the first two days of the Dale Farm eviction. It is understood that a hearing is likely to take place after Easter.

MP Jonathan Edwards said in parliament: "The use of production orders by the police, such as in the case of Dale Farm, has the potential to increase risks for journalists as they are, in effect, seen as informers, as well as undermining journalistic independence.

"The National Union of Journalists is worried that the use of such orders is becoming more common. Will the minister meet me, other concerned MPs and the NUJ to discuss the issue?"

Home Office minister James Brokenshire replied: "Production orders are a valuable tool for the police to use in the investigation of serious crime, but are issued only after careful scrutiny by a circuit judge.

"Information on the number of production orders made by individual police forces is not collated centrally. We have not, therefore, made any assessment of the level of applications.

"I understand that the National Union of Journalists has mounted an appeal in the courts against the granting of a number of orders, so I hope you will appreciate that it is difficult for me to comment on the specifics.

"Our understanding is that only a small minority of production orders are used to obtain journalistic material. The vast majority are made in relation to financial information. If the honourable gentleman wishes to write to me, I will look into the specifics that he highlighted."

In a later question to Home Office minister Damian Green, MP Kelvin Hopkins said: "National Union of Journalists members are placed at risk when their material or sources are used by police forces through production orders.

"Does the minister accept that journalists are independent news gatherers, not evidence gatherers for law enforcement, and that forcing them to hand over their journalistic material or sources places them at risk of attack? Will he agree to meet me and other members of the NUJ parliamentary group to discuss those matters?"

Green, a former business editor at Channel 4, replied: "Information on physical assaults against journalists covering news stories is not available from the police recorded crime statistics held by the Home Office.

"Journalists have the right to do their job in a safe environment and, like all members of the public, are protected by the law. If they are assaulted, the crime will be investigated and dealt with by the police."

He added: "As a former journalist and, indeed, a former member of the NUJ, I have every sympathy with journalists whose lives are put in danger."

Free daily newsletter

If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).