Sir David Davis says that it is “not acceptable for SOCA to withhold information of serious public interest three years after the event”

In response to reports today regarding the Metropolitan Police trying to block publication of a list of 101 clients jailed for “blagging” offences Sir David Davis said:

“Yet again a police agency is hiding behind excessive secrecy.  It is simply not acceptable for SOCA to withhold information of serious public interest three years after the event under the excuse of an “ongoing police investigation”.  The tradition in Britain is for policing to take place in the public eye and under public scrutiny.  

The courts are perfectly able to deal with matters in the public domain and English law is premised on that basis.

Keith Vaz the chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee is absolutely right and SOCA is absolutely wrong.  This information should be in the public domain and SOCA should put it there now.”