Written question asked by Julian Huppert (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 4 July 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 July 2011. It was answered by Crispin Blunt (Conservative) on Thursday, 7 July 2011 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

National Public Order Intelligence Unit

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the disclosure to a criminal defence of information acquired as a result of the policing of protests involving criminal activity by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit.

Answer: I have been asked to reply.It would be inappropriate for me to comment on individual cases. The Government's policy on disclosure in criminal proceedings is that investigators, prosecutors and defendants should adhere rigorously to the requirements of the disclosure laws (notably the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, as amended, and its accompanying codes of practice), upon which fair and efficient trials are founded. In January 2011, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) announced that it would carry out a review of the work conducted by the National Domestic Extremism Units. The Independent Police Complaints Commission ('IPCC') is carrying-out a separate independent investigation into disclosure issues around a number of specific cases. The Director of Public Prosecutions has also commissioned a separate independent review of the CPS decisions on a specific case. The Government will consider very carefully any recommendations which may emerge from these reviews for changes to the disclosure laws.

Secondary information