British police, government under fire after detention of Tory MP

Nov 29, 2008, 9:15 GMT

London - Police and politicians remained under fire Saturday after the detention of a Tory member of parliament, Damien Green, two days earlier amid suspicions of leaking information.

Green, immigration spokesman for the Conservatives, had been held for nine hours while his homes and offices were searched for evidence in allegations of his involvement in leaking Home Office information.

The opposition parties are demanding that the government answer questions about the detention, with Conservative Party leader David Cameron denouncing the 'heavy-handed' tactics involved, Britain's Press Association reported.

Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith responded that the government was not involved in the decision to arrest Green, and that it was purely a police matter.

In particular, the opposition anger was directed at Speaker of Parliament Michael Martin and House of Commons authorities in letting police enter the Westminster building to search Green's office.

Police said that the search could not have taken place without approval by House of Commons officials, a development which reports said pointed to a decision by Martin.

Tory MP Douglas Carswell, in his internet blog, said that if this was the case that Martin authorized the raid, he would demand the speaker's resignation.

According to Sir David Normington, a Home Office senior civil servant, confirmed that there had been a number of leaks of sensitive information over 'an extended period.'

Scotland Yard said Green was held 'on suspicion of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office and aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office.'