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A forthcoming report is set to shed light on the surveillance tactics employed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) against journalists. Expected to be critical, the report will focus on how the police accessed reporters’ phone numbers to monitor potential leaks of information. Angus McCullough KC compiled the report, which examines PSNI practices from 2011 to 2024, following concerns that emerged during the legal proceedings initiated by Belfast journalists Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney regarding their treatment.
In addition to journalists, McCullough’s investigation also delves into the possible use of covert surveillance against lawyers and other individuals. The report, which spans approximately 200 pages, was brought to the attention of political parties and the Northern Ireland Policing Board by Chief Constable Jon Boutcher. One key aspect covered in the report is the utilization of journalists’ phone numbers to detect any unauthorized communication between reporters and police personnel.
McCullough’s report is believed to highlight the extensive nature of what are referred to as “defensive operations,” where reporters’ phone numbers were cross-referenced with PSNI communication system records to identify any unauthorized contact with police officers or staff. Notably, the review does not delve into cases currently under investigation by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, responsible for addressing complaints against official entities such as intelligence agencies. Recently, MI5 acknowledged that it had obtained communications data from journalist Vincent Kearney’s mobile phone during his tenure at the BBC in a manner deemed illegal.
Overall, the report’s findings are anticipated to raise significant concerns about the intrusive methods employed by the PSNI against journalists, further amplifying the ongoing discussions surrounding press freedom and protection of journalistic sources
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