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UK High Court Rules MI5 Will Not Face Contempt Action Over False Evidence

Senior judges concluded that contempt proceedings would consume significant resources while largely duplicating Sir John Goldring's report, which identified serious and systemic failures within MI5.

,   and  TIPP Staff
2 min read
UK spy agency MI5 will not face contempt case for misleading evidence, court rules. Pic via(@Reuters)

MI5 and its officials will not face contempt of court proceedings despite providing false evidence to three London courts, after the High Court ruled that pursuing the case would not serve the public interest.

The Security Service maintained incorrect evidence for three years to prevent the BBC from identifying a covert intelligence source known as Agent X before eventually admitting the information was false.

Senior judges concluded that contempt proceedings would consume significant resources while largely duplicating Sir John Goldring's report, which identified serious and systemic failures within MI5.

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Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr said any further criminal action should be considered by the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. The court also questioned the effectiveness of imposing financial penalties on the agency.

MI5 Director General Sir Ken McCallum welcomed the ruling, apologised for the serious failures and said efforts to address the shortcomings were continuing.

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