"I completely condemn any leaked information from any quarter," said Tony Blair at PMQs.
'Public lack of trust in intelligence' said BBC News commentator: WMD and Lt Harry Bird.
1. The fight against terrorism: committee; leaks; and 'no guarantees.' Everything except getting a proper job done while allowing rogues like Lt Harry Bird to run amok in North Kensington 24/7 for over six years destroying all confidence in surveillance, intelligence and law enforcement. Leaks? Who needs leaks with blabber mouth Lt Harry Bird telling the whole world everything.
He is a major contributor to the risk from terrorist attack. He creates the tyranny that fuels terrorists hatred leading the few extremists to feel justified in their mass attacks against the innocent. There is much concern about leaks which jeopardise police investigations but what about the likes of Lt Harry Bird, BS and others who make a mockery of any standards in law enforcement and create disrespect in the community for the police? Obviously, Tony Blair does not condemn Lt Harry Bird shooting his mouth off about everything and anything he can. Public confidence. What public confidence. The government itself has destroyed that.How can anyone carry out eight years and eight months of totally invasive surveillance activity 24/7 without any result and expect anyone to have any confidence in the ability of the government? This is quite obvious to anyone that is is not an investigation. Where is the fight against terrorism? 'No guarantees' says the Home Secretary. He ought to know just how bad the government really is. I most certainly do.
BBC News Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 11:28 GMT 12:28 UK
Blair defends global terror fight
 |   |
Blair interview Tony Blair has warned that terrorism continues to be a "global" threat and needs to be fought whether it is in "Iraq, Afghanistan or anywhere else".
He said his view was "not popular", but the "large part of the Western world" which blamed George Bush was wrong.
"This is a very deep-rooted problem right round the world... if we don't fight it it's going to come after us," the prime minister told the BBC.
He spoke before he and other ministers were briefed by the new head of MI5.
Jonathan Evans delivered his briefing at the first meeting of the new committee on security and terrorism, which brings together intelligence agency representatives, police and Whitehall officials and ministers.
Blair defends global terror fight
BBC News Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 03:53 GMT 04:53 UK
Blair to chair terror committee
 Mr Blair will chair the committee, which will meet on a monthly basis |
Tony Blair is due to chair the first meeting of the ministerial committee on security and terrorism, which was set up as part of Home Office reforms.
The committee, which is expected to meet monthly, will involve intelligence agency representatives, police and other relevant Whitehall bodies.
It is intended to streamline the approach to security threats.
Home Secretary John Reid and Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett will be among those attending the meeting.
|  We need a single minister in the Cabinet...working with the home secretary to concentrate on terrorism day in, day out  David Davis Shadow home secretary |
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said the new approach was the wrong answer to the question of how best to tackle possible security threats to the UK.
He said: "The aim is right but a committee will not solve this problem.
Blair to chair terror committee
BBC News Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 09:58 GMT 10:58 UK
Six arrested in anti-terror raids
 Abu Izzadeen (left) heckled a meeting in east London |
Six men have been arrested on suspicion of incitement offences by anti-terror officers from the Metropolitan Police.
They include Abu Izzadeen, also known as Omar Brooks, who made headlines when he heckled Home Secretary John Reid at an event last year.
Five arrests took place in London and the sixth in Luton, Bedfordshire.
Scotland Yard said the arrests related to allegations of inciting others to commit acts of terrorism abroad and fund-raising for terrorists.
Six arrested in anti-terror raids
BBC News Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 18:47 GMT 19:47 UK
Terror chief warns of media leaks
 Peter Clarke: Leak warning |
The UK's counter-terrorism chief has condemned as "beneath contempt" people who leak anti-terrorism intelligence.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke of the Metropolitan Police said there were a "small number of misguided individuals who betray confidences".
By doing so, they had compromised investigations, revealed sources of life-saving intelligence and "put lives at risk" during major investigations.
DAC Clarke also warned of a damaging "lack of public trust" in intelligence.
In a major speech at the Policy Exchange, a think-tank, DAC Clarke said his role as National Co-ordinator of Terrorist Investigations was to bridge the intelligence and policing worlds in an environment that had completely changed in recent years.Terror chief warns of media leaks
Some 100 suspects were awaiting terrorism trials, he said.
But he warned the police's efforts to counter terrorism threats had been damaged by leaks to the media.
Terror chief warns of media leaks
BBC News Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 19:47 GMT 20:47 UK
Blair rejects leak inquiry call
|  Tony Blair said he condemned any leaks |
Prime Minister Tony Blair has rejected demands for an independent inquiry into leaks of police anti-terrorism intelligence to the media.
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have both asked the government for a formal investigation.
The UK's counter-terrorism chief has said leaks could "put lives at risk".
But Mr Blair said "as far as he was aware" ministers and civil servants had not been responsible for any, and he completely condemned all leaks.
On Tuesday Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke of the Metropolitan Police said people who divulged sensitive information to the media were "beneath contempt".
| Let me make it absolutely clear that I completely condemn any leaks of sensitive information from whatever quarter Tony Blair |
But he did not specify where the leaks had come from.
Instead he used a recent anti-terror investigation in Birmingham as an example of when information had been leaked to the media.
Shadow home secretary David Davis has asked Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell to launch a formal inquiry into this operation.
Blair rejects leak inquiry call
BBC News Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 09:42 GMT 10:42 UK
'No guarantee' in terrorism fight
 Mr Reid said the counter-terrorism effort would be "more agile" |
The government "cannot guarantee 100% success" in its fight against terrorism, the home secretary says.
John Reid said he could only promise "100% commitment" from police, security services and the Home Office as it shifts its focus to security.
He said the "struggle" against terrorism would "be unrelenting and of lengthy duration."
The Home Office is to be split from 9 May, to concentrate on crime reduction, terrorism and mass migration.
The reforms will boost security and provide a "more agile" response to terror threats, Mr Reid told an audience at the Royal United Services Institute.
The new Office for Security and Counter Terrorism would play a "pivotal role" by enabling the Home Office to focus on personal, community and national security, he added.
'No guarantee' in terrorism fight
2. I would certainly like to know the contents of this memo from a private talk between Bush and Blair in April 2004. While national security risks are cited as the reason to keep this secret and try these civil servants for breaching the Official Secrets Act, I suspect that the truth of the matter rests with the impact on the political careers of Bush and Blair. Perhaps the public would be astounded to learn what these two really said.
BBC News Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 17:20 GMT 18:20 UK
Secret memo leak 'risked lives'
 David Keogh and Leo O'Connor stand trial at the Old Bailey |
The leaking of a secret [April 2004] memo detailing talks between George Bush and Tony Blair could have put lives in danger, the Old Bailey has heard.
Civil servant David Keogh, 50, and MP's researcher Leo O'Connor, 44, both from Northampton, deny three charges under the Official Secrets Act.
Mr Blair's foreign policy adviser Sir Nigel Sheinwald said a leak would have sparked worldwide anger.
He told the court it would have put UK forces at risk.
Sir Nigel described how the leaking of such a secret and sensitive document could have damaged Britain's alliances within the world and destroyed the trust needed for governments to speak openly to each other.
Secret memo leak 'risked lives'
3. Privatised spying puts spies on trial. Belgravia resident and Mellon Bank heir among others hired private dicks to spy on his wife. Five from this private investigation firm Active Investigation Services trading as Hackers Are Us are on trial for spying. A total of 30 have been arrested as part of the police investigation.
I wonder about the scores if not hundreds of people who have engaged in the spying activity against me for eight years and eight months. Have they fully considered their legal and criminal liability as I have noted from time to time all these years? One guy realising what was happening after attending a meeting left shouting outside his refusal to participate because "You are spying on him" he yelled as loud as possible outside. There are some who know better, but why didn't he report it to the police? Why haven't the police investigated this situation which has been going on for eight years and eight months?
BBC News Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 16:27 GMT 17:27 UK
Detective agency 'paid to spy'
 The firm is accused of phone tapping and computer hacking |
A private detective firm earned tens of thousands of pounds by hacking into people's computers and bugging telephones, a court has heard.
Active Investigation Services (AIS) had a number of "lucrative sidelines" under the title "Hackers Are Us", Southwark Crown Court was told.
These included using "Trojan" viruses to enter computers and hi-tech devices to bug phones, the prosecution claimed.
Five men associated with the agency deny a total of 15 charges.
One of those accused is American banking heir Matthew Mellon, 43, who the prosecution claim paid AIS to hack into the e-mails of his estranged wife prior to their divorce.
The court was told that Mr Mellon, a multi-millionaire from Belgravia, central London, asked Hackers Are Us to snoop on spouse Tamara, head of the Jimmy Choo shoe empire.