Nottinghamshire Police has welcomed a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for an independent inquiry into the disclosure of material relating to an undercover police officer.
The move follows growing concerns about events relating to the collapse of a trial of environmental activists accused of planning to break into Ratcliffe on Soar power station.
Claims emerged this month that leaked documents indicate the Crown Prosecution Service may have misled the public and even the courts when the trial was abandoned in January. The CPS told the court "previously unavailable information" had come to light that undermined its case against the activists.
However, media reports say the supposedly new evidence – that of an undercover police officer – had in fact been in the possession of the CPS for more than a year.
On Thursday the DPP, Keir Starmer QC, said: “In light of growing concerns about the non-disclosure of material relating to the activities of an undercover police officer in the Ratcliffe on Soar power station cases, I have decided that I will set up an independent inquiry, conducted by a senior legal figure, to work in tandem with the IPCC inquiry into the matter which began in January 2011.
“The two inquiries will have full access to all the available evidence, whether held by the police or the CPS, and will share information. They will also share their provisional findings before final reports are drawn up.
“This arrangement will provide independent scrutiny of the actions of both the police and the CPS in relation to the disclosure issues arising from the Ratcliffe on Soar power station cases. It is an arrangement supported by the IPCC and the Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire. Until the two inquiries report, it is important that no conclusions are drawn about any individuals involved in this matter.”
In a statement Nottinghamshire Police welcomed the decision.
A spokesman said: “We are delighted to hear the announcement from the DPP. Nottinghamshire Police invited the IPCC to conduct an independent inquiry into the circumstances around disclosure of material back in January.
“We have already provided a wealth of material and cooperated fully with each of the separate reviews conducted into the events relating to the Ratcliffe on Soar power station cases.
“It is absolutely crucial that the integrity of the Police Service, and the criminal justice system as a whole, is beyond question and we believe conducting an independent review in these matters is the right thing to do. We look forward to its outcome.”
