Corruption by Public Officials

Two prison officers were allegedly paid thousands of pounds by journalists for information. One prison officer is suspected of receiving £35,000 while another is thought to have received around £14,000. Detectives have analysed stories potentially linked to the payments and are said to believe there are “reasonable grounds” to believe offences have been committed. Meanwhile, as the Leveson Inquiry enters its final week, Operation Weeting (investigating phone hacking) has arrested fifteen former and current journalists and six people (including Rebekah Brooks and her husband Charlie) have been charged. Forty-one people have been arrested under Operation Elveden (the investigation into payments to officials) and detectives have made seven arrests under Operation Tuleta (looking into allegations of computer hacking and privacy infringement). HS&Co was recently informed that there were a certain number of prison officers in most prisons who might be susceptible to being rewarded by inmates for information on other prisoners. This is particularly in the context of finding out about sex offenders who were masquerading as ‘normal’ prisoners, now that the special wings have been removed. HS&Co represent on all types of sex offences.