Press release: 4 November 2002

Commenting on David Shayler's conviction under the Official Secrets Act, the Campaign for Freedom of Information said it demonstrated the need for a public interest defence. The Campaign's Director Maurice Frankel said: "Throughout this case people have asked "was Shayler right to do it?" and "did he reveal something so serious that it justified breaking the normal secrecy rules?" Without a public interest defence the jury was not allowed to consider these questions. That puts the law out of touch with the way people actually approach these issues. The Act should be amended to include a public interest defence."