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Hacking SOCA

Soca chairman steps down over links to private investigations firm

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By John Glenday, Reporter

August 2, 2013 | 2 min read

The Serious Organised Crime Agency is today facing renewed calls to publish the names of over 100 firms which employed rogue private investigators after its chairman, Sir Ian Andrews, stepped down for failing to disclose that he himself owns an international investigations firm.

The revelations have piled renewed pressure on the agency to act following the intervention of deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg yesterday, who called for the organisation to name those companies which employed investigators who used hacking to steal information.

Andrews had been the principle roadblock to publication, arguing that it could unfairly taint firms which had no knowledge of underhand behaviour and that it could breach the Human Rights Act.

Keith Vaz, chair of the home affairs select committee, said: “Clearly as head of a law enforcement agency it is important that there is full transparency and it is essential that all members of the Soca board also check their own interests.”

Attempting to explain his oversight Abndrews said: “I have no explanation other than it was both a genuine and unintentional oversight, but it is none the less inexcusable, and the responsibility is mine alone.

“Given the fact that I have failed to maintain the standard of integrity expected of the head of a public body, let alone one charged with law enforcement, I believe that I had no alternative but to offer the Home Secretary my resignation.

“I very much regret that this may damage the reputation of an agency with which I have been immensely proud to have been associated for the last four years.”

Hacking SOCA

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