Leaks undermining Home Office, says top official

THE string of leaks from the Home Office which prompted officials to call in the police and led to the arrest of the Conservative front-bencher Damian Green was "completely undermining" the department's work, its most senior civil servant said yesterday.

Sir David Normington defended his decision to call in Scotland Yard, saying he was "completely frustrated" by 20 leaks over a two-year period. He told the home affairs committee that whoever was leaking the material was "despicable and disloyal".

He said: "We were completely frustrated and very concerned about the situation. We seemed to have somebody or some people who were deliberately and maliciously leaking material for political purposes."

Sir David said he believed he had followed proper procedure by ordering an internal investigation and then calling police.

Officers arrested a junior official, Christopher Galley, on 19 November. Mr Green was arrested and his offices searched eight days later.

Prosecutors are considering whether they will face charges.