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Jeremy Summers on BBC News 24
06 February 2008
Jeremy Summers was interviewed on BBC News 24 where he commented on Government plans to allow intercept evidence in criminal trials. Gordon Brown publicly welcomed the proposals allowing intercept evidence, providing that the new measures satisfied the primary concern of upholding national security. Under the new proposals , the Security services will retain control over the intercepted evidence and, ultimately, decide whether it is to be admissible in court.
Asked if we welcomed the move, Jeremy Summers said:
“Yes, as long as there are checks and balances in place. We have a system to obtain this information, we have the evidence; so let’s use it. We are the only common law country that does not allow for the use of evidence that we obtain covertly. Strangely, if evidence is obtained overseas we can use it a UK court but we can’t use our own covert information.”
Asked why the Security services are concerned about intercept evidence being used, Jeremy said:
“I think there is a fear that the Crown Jewells will be given away and that people who are undesirable will learn how this information is gathered and learn who the sources are. I’m not sure this is a valid concern. There is plenty of information out there and if the system is robustly policed, these concerns can be properly addressed.”