Hemming calls for Home Secretary to stop arrest briefings

4.56.37pm GMT Wed 7th Feb 2007

John Hemming MP has written to the Home Secretary calling for him to bring the practise of the government briefing on the details of allegations behind arrests to an end.

"Some of the briefing on the recent arrests actually was done before one of the people had been arrested", he said. "This badly undermines the work of the police and the courts. We need to protect the integrity of the criminal justice system. If there are allegations that need to be answered then they can be answered in court and reported on at that stage."

"It can be very convenient to the Prime Minister to have hours taken on TV about the reasons behind arrests. However, it is not good for the country as a whole and we should put the public interest first."