Closing submissions in privacy and DPA claim against the BBC and South Yorkshire Police to commence on Tuesday 8th May
The Court has finished hearing evidence in the trial of Sir Cliff Richard’s claim against the BBC and South Yorkshire Police for misuse of private information/breach of Article 8 ECHR, and breach of the Data Protection Act 1998. The trial will recommence on the 8th May for closing submissions.
The claim, being tried before Mr Justice Mann, relates to BBC coverage of a search of Sir Cliff’s home carried out by South Yorkshire Police in 2014. The BBC named Sir Cliff and covered the raid with live reporting on the ground and aerial footage shot from a helicopter above his home. The search related to an allegation of an offence dating from the 1980s, which the Claimant denied at all times. The Claimant was never arrested and the CPS announced that no charges would be brought in 2016.
South Yorkshire Police admitted liability in making disclosures of private information to the BBC in 2014, paid substantial damages and made a statement in open court. The Claimant made an interim application, which was granted by Mr Justice Mann in May 2017, to identify whether the BBC’s source was from within Operation Yewtree.
At the suggestion of the Judge, the witness statements are available on the following websites:
- The witness statements relied on by the Claimant
- The BBC’s witness statements
- South Yorkshire Police’s witness statements: Joanna Beattie, Lesley Card, David Crompton
PA’s Media Lawyer service has carried daily reports of the evidence, which are also available on Inforrm’s blog:
- Day 1, Opening Submissions
- Day 2, Sir Cliff’s Evidence – Media Lawyer
- Day 3, Raid information “came from police source” – Media Lawyer
- Day 4, Sir Cliff seemed “utterly distraught”
- Day 5, Sir Cliff “Faced Crisis Situation”, Reporter “Guessed the Singer’s Name” – Media Lawyer
- Day 6, Reporter denies forcing detective’s hand – Media Lawyer
- Day 7, Reporter: I had an understanding with detective over Sir Cliff Raid – Media Lawyer
- Day 8, Editor: BBC could have faced criticism for not reporting investigation – Media Lawyer
- Day 9, Editor “not concerned” by raid helicopter footage – Media Lawyer
- Day 10. BBC had “Public interest responsibility” over coverage of search – Media Lawyer
- Day 11, Footage of raid was intrusive says ex-police chief – Media Lawyer
5RB’s Justin Rushbrooke QC and Godwin Busuttil (instructed by Simkins LLP) act for the Claimant, and Adam Wolanski (instructed by DWF LLP) for South Yorkshire Police.