MI5 will not face contempt charges after admitting evidence was false
newsNov 3, 20261741
The High Court ruled that MI5 and its staff will not face contempt of court proceedings after the security service admitted it gave false evidence to three courts, because a contempt prosecution would be too complex for the court to manage. The divisional court judges, Baroness Chief Justice Sue Carr, Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Chamberlain, said the police have the necessary investigatory powers and resources and that pursuing contempt would likely duplicate Sir John Goldring’s inquiry. The false evidence concerned conversations between MI5 and the BBC about an abusive informant known as Agent X. MI5 director general Sir Ken McCallum said the judgment was welcome, repeated his apology for MI5’s “serious failures” and for the distress caused to Beth. Sir John Goldring’s July report, ordered by the prime minister, found one senior MI5 officer lied repeatedly, another misled colleagues, and identified serious and systemic failures; MI5 said in September it accepted the findings without reservation. One of the two most criticised officers has resigned and the other faces internal disciplinary proceedings. The judges suggested any further action should follow a police investigation with the Crown Prosecution Service deciding on charges, noting criminal offences such as misconduct in public office or perverting the course of justice may be more straightforward to prove than contempt, and they insisted MI5 must change how it gives evidence to courts in future.
Mark O’Neill 🐻16
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