UK takes to arresting journalists

By Stephen Brook

The Daily Mirror today furiously attacked British Transport Police for using the Terrorism Act to arrest two of its staff, saying it jeopardised the future of investigative journalism.

Authorities released Mirror undercover reporter Tom Parry and photographer Roger Allen early this morning on bail, after British Transport Police used the act to arrest them at the Stonebridge Park rail depot in north-west London yesterday.

The Mirror disputed yesterday’s reports that the two journalists attempted to put a fake bomb on a Channel tunnel train, saying it was a “tracking device” and part of a series of investigations to test rail freight security.

“To be arrested under the Terrorism Act 2001 is more than alarming, it’s completely disproportionate to the alleged crime,” said the Daily Mirror head of news, Gary Jones.

“Journalists should be fearing for the future of investigative journalism if journalists carrying out legitimate journalistic exercises are arrested under the Terrorism Act.

“The aim of the police is to undermine journalists and stop them carrying out investigations of legitimate nature.”

Parry and Allen were bailed and will reappear in court in September.

Mr Jones disputed police claims that the action of the Mirror staff could have caused alarm and distress to members of the public, saying this was “totally inaccurate”.

He also attacked police for raiding the homes of both men. Police raided Parry’s home and took away a computer hard drive, notebooks and a video cassette.

“His wife was asked what sort of man was he, was he a good husband and why was he going overseas for his work so often,” Mr Jones said.

The Daily Mirror did not find out about the arrest until a Press Association reporter contacted the paper yesterday afternoon.

Parry and Allen were caught carrying their device by railway staff who asked what they were doing on the premises and then called the British Transport Police.

Yesterday a Mirror spokesman defended its journalists. “Last year, Mirror journalists attempted and succeeded in planting a fake bomb on a nuclear train, which highlighted serious security lapses,” the spokesman said.

“We therefore felt that it was a legitimate and justified journalistic exercise to repeat the action in the interests of public safety. We are happy to see that the security procedures have now improved.”

A BTP spokeswoman confirmed two men had been arrested. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said: “We are aware that the British Transport Police have arrested two men following a report of trespass. Clearly, security is a top priority.”

Parry has been working for the Mirror since 2001. In January this year he planted a fake bomb on an unguarded train at Didcot Parkway station, sparking an urgent review of security arrangements for MoD trains.

The train, parked in sidings at the station, was reportedly packed with army explosives when Parry, again accompanied by Allen, planted the fake device after walking off a public platform and crossing a high-speed train line to enter a secure yard. It was said to have been delivering ordnance intended for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In July last year the Mirror ran a similar exposé by Parry involving trains carrying nuclear waste to Sellafield.

The paper described how Parry, again with a photographer, wandered up to unattended wagons at Direct Rail Services’ Brent yard in north-west London and planted a fake device on a train in the sidings.

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