| The NUJ is backing Chris Mullin, the journalist, former MP and government minister, in contesting an order served on him by police using the Terrorism Act to seek source material relating to the Birmingham pub bombings. The West Midlands Police have applied for an order requiring Mr Mullin to disclose material relating to his 1985-6 investigation of the Birmingham pub bombings, which took place in November 1974, killing. Mr Mullin’s book, Error of Judgement, and a series of documentaries helped expose one of the worst miscarriages of justice in legal history, leading to the release of six men – known as the Birmingham Six – whose convictions were quashed in 1991. With the support of the NUJ, of which he has been a member for more than 50 years, Mr Mullin will be contesting the application on the grounds that to disclose the material requested would be a fundamental breach of the principle that journalists are entitled to protect their sources. Chris Mullin said: “If West Midlands Police had carried out a proper investigation after the bombings, instead of framing the first half-dozen people unlucky enough to fall into their hands, they might have caught the real perpetrators in the first place. It is beyond irony. They appear to have gone for the guy who blew the whistle.” NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: “The principle of protecting your source and keeping your word when confidentiality is pledged is a vital one for all journalists and lies at the heart of the NUJ’s Code of Conduct. The case brought by West Midlands Police risks compromising that core principle and undermining press freedom which is why the NUJ stands four-square behind Chris and is backing this case.” The quashing of the convictions of the Birmingham Six in March 1991 had significant consequences for the entire police and criminal justice system. The West Midlands Serious Crimes Squad was wound up and about 30 further convictions based on WMP police evidence were subsequently quashed. It also resulted in the setting up of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice which, among other reforms, led to the establishment of the Criminal Cases Review Commission which to date has resulted in the quashing of about 500 further convictions. Indirectly, it also led to reform of the judicial appointments process. As a member, and later chairman, of the Home Affairs Select Committee Mr Mullin played a part in the introduction of these reforms. The hearing will take place at the Old Bailey on February 24 and 25, at a hearing before the Recorder of London, His Honour Judge Mark Lucraft, QC. Mr Mullin is being represented by Louis Charalambous of Simons Muirhead Burton and Gavin Millar QC. |