Operation Elveden – CPS blasted after dropping nine cases against reporters accused of bribing public officials
Journalists accused of bribing public officials as part of Operation Elveden have lashed out at police for how they were treated following the dismissal of nine cases last week.
Following a brief hearing, former Sun managing editor Graham Dudman, whose case was dropped, said on his arrest three years ago police treated him like “a murderer or terrorist”, according the BBC News.
Cases against Ben O’Driscoll, Greig Box Turnbull, Clive Goodman, Andy Coulson, Vince Soodin, Lucy Panton, Stephen Moyes, Graham Dudman and Ryan Sabey were canned.
As a result, only three trials remain from the Metropolitan police's £20m investigation - which to date has failed to convict a single reporter.
Dudman added: “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.”
Clive Goodman, formerly News of the World’s royal correspondent, reflected: “It has been a pretty grim four years, not just for me but for everyone involved in this case and others still going through it.
"I felt it was important to come today to see the people responsible for this vindictive prosecution stand in court and admit they got it wrong."
The Crown Prosecution Service is continuing its action against Sun journalists Chris Pharo, Jamie Pyatt and separately Anthony France – each charged with bribing police officers.