Smith defends police role in leaks inquiry

By Tim Castle

LONDON (Reuters) - Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has defended the government's decision to call in police to investigate Home Office leaks that led to the arrest of a Conservative MP and the search of his Commons office.

She told parliament on Thursday that the systematic leaking of classified material from her department, which also deals with issues of national security, meant it was "essential" to request police assistance.

But she maintained that neither she nor any other cabinet minister was informed in advance of the arrest of Conservative Immigration Spokesman Damian Green last week.

"The systematic leaking of government information raises issues that strike at the very heart of our system of governance," she said.

"Such activity is not about merely creating political embarrassment, for myself or any other minister."

She said the leaks threatened the role of the civil service in acting in a politically impartial manner and "drove a coach and horses" through the Civil Service Code.

Smith said she had asked Paul Stephenson, Acting Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, for clarification of how authorisation was obtained from the Commons Serjeant-at-Arms for last Thursday's search of Green's office.

Commons Speaker Michael Martin says police had failed to inform the Serjeant, Jill Pay, of her right to insist on a warrant from a judge first.  Continued...