AN international campaign group for freedom of speech has said that revelations over police spying on journalists and their sources amount to "a serious blow to freedom of information in Scotland."
Reporters Without Borders, which has consultant status at the United Nations and UNESCO, has called on Police Scotland to come clean over whether it is one of two forces that has illegally carried out surveillance on reporters without judicial approval.
A recent report from the Interception of Communications Commissioner Office (IOCCO) revealed that two UK forces have breached a new code of conduct, which came into force in March. Police Scotland has refused to confirm reports that it is one of the organisations.
Johann Bihr, head of the Reporters Without Borders Eastern Europe and Central Asia Desk and acting head of its EU and Balkans desk, said: "The European Court of Human Rights, to which the United Kingdom is part, has repeatedly stressed that the protection of journalistic sources is 'a cornerstone of press freedom'. If sources were not protected, many of them would be deterred from talking to journalists and investigative journalism simply could not exist.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "IOCCO has clearly set out its rationale for not identifying organisations in its report and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further."
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