Operation Elveden: Journalists voice their anger over cases

 

A group of journalists who had been accused of illegally paying public officials for stories have voiced their anger about their treatment.

Ex-Sun managing editor Graham Dudman said police had treated him like "a murderer or a terrorist" when he was first arrested three years ago.
Nine journalists awaiting trial had their cases dropped earlier this month after an urgent legal review.
But the Crown Prosecution Service defended its decision to prosecute.


The decision to scrap all but three journalists' trials has already led to criticism of the £11m Metropolitan Police probe, Operation Elveden, which has so far failed to result in the successful conviction of a single reporter following a trial.

'Frightening ordeal'

Mr Dudman, who had been facing a retrial later this year, was tearful as he spoke outside the Old Bailey after being formally cleared of wrongdoing.
"In January 2012, somebody decided I posed such a danger to society that 10 police officers raided my home at dawn in front of my terrified wife and young children," he said.
He said the "frightening ordeal" which included 1,176 days on bail, a four-month trial and two not guilty verdicts was in stark contrast to the way the CPS announced it was dropping the remaining two charges "by sending my solicitor an email".
He thanked his legal team as well as family, friends and colleagues for standing by him "through the darkest days of this unspeakable experience".