Theresa May today demanded a ‘serious’ investigation into whether two ex-detectives broke the law by revealing that pornography was found during a notorious 2008 raid on Damian Green’s office.
The Prime Minister said she wanted a proper examination of the allegations after Scotland Yard referred Bob Quick and Neil Lewis to the Information Commissioner for flouting data protection rules.
However, questions have been raised after it emerged the maximum punishment the watchdog can impose is a fine.
Meanwhile, Mr Quick has confirmed that he still intends to sue Mr Green for accusing him of lying about the presence of inappropriate material on his computer.
The deputy PM was dramatically sacked last night after a sleaze probe found he had issued ‘misleading’ statements denying that pornography was found.
Former Met chief Bob Quick (pictured left) has confirmed that he still intends to sue Damian Green (pictured right) for accusing him of lying about the presence of inappropriate material on his computer
Theresa May is in Poland meeting her new counterpart today after sacking Mr Green last night
Mr Green made the statements after Mr Quick – with whom he has had a long-running feud – made claims to the Cabinet Office inquiry into his conduct.
Mr Lewis, another officer involved in the 2008 raid, also waded into the row by declaring that ‘thousands’ of images were found and it was ‘ridiculous’ to suggest the MP had not been viewing them personally.
Scotland Yard commissioner Cressida Dick told LBC earlier this month that the former officers’ behaviour had been ‘wrong’.
She said police had an ongoing ‘duty of confidentiality’ and the Met would be considering whether offences had been committed.
NINE-YEAR GRUDGE MATCH BETWEEN QUICK AND GREEN
The Tories put out footage of the 2008 raid on Damian Green’s office
Damian Green and Bob Quick crossed swords in 2008 when the Met assistant commissioner took dramatic action in an inquiry into leaks from the force.
Mr Quick decided to arrest then then shadow immigration minister.
The Tory MP was held for nine hours while his Commons office, two homes and constituency office, were searched and computers removed by counter-terrorism officers.
The episode sparked a huge inquest at the Commons into whether parliamentary privilege should have protected the material held by an MP.
In the ensuing political storm, it emerged Mr Quick’s wife was running a car hire firm from their home and details of their address were published on a website.
The officer then accused the Tories of being ‘wholly corrupt’ in leaking the story to intimidate him and his investigation.
But he was forced to apologise after then party leader David Cameron said the claim ‘Tory machinery’ was mobilised against his investigation was ‘completely baseless’.
Mr Green was later cleared of any wrongdoing. Mr Quick complained bitterly that the investigation cost him his career.
He quit in April 2009 after being photographed arriving at Downing Street with documents detailing a counter-terror operation clearly visible. He later claimed he might have survived the gaffe if it had not been for the Green affair.
‘It is my view that what they have done, based on my understanding of what they are saying, what they have done is wrong. And I condemn it,’ she said.
However, today Ms Dick admitted the Yard had concluded that the only way forward was to refer the issue to the Information Commissioner.
‘We are disappointed to see that it appears that former colleagues have put into the public domain via the media material that they appear to have had access to as part of a confidential investigation,’ she told the London Assembly.
‘I can say today that, in relation to that matter, having received our advice, we have made a referral to the Information Commissioner’s Office as we believe that they are the appropriate people to carry on that investigation into essentially data protection matters.’
The ICO said the penalty for Data Protection breaches could only be a fine, although the amount is not thought to be capped.
A spokeswoman said: ‘We can confirm that we have received a referral from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) that explains their belief that offences under the Data Protection Act 1998 have been committed by former MPS officers.
‘As the UK’s data protection regulator, we’ll be looking at whether individuals acted unlawfully by retaining or disclosing personal data.
‘These are serious allegations and we are investigating to determine whether the law has been broken and what further action is necessary including potential criminal prosecution.’
Mr Quick previously threatened to sue Mr Green saying he must ‘publicly retract’ allegations he had lied about the discovery.
Asked today whether he would press on with the legal action, Mr Quick told the BBC: ‘I will continue to seek a retraction. The matter is in the hands of my lawyers.’
A legal letter is expected to be sent to Mr Green imminently.
The 2008 raid was highly controversial, as Mr Green – then shadow immigration minister – had been embarrassing the police with a series of leaks.
Mr Quick, who was leading an investigation into the source, decided to arrest then then shadow immigration minister.
The Tory MP was held for nine hours while his Commons office, two homes and constituency office, were searched and computers removed by counter-terrorism officers.
The episode sparked a huge inquest at the Commons into whether parliamentary privilege should have protected the material held by an MP.
In the ensuing political storm, it emerged Mr Quick’s wife was running a car hire firm from their home and details of their address were published on a website.
The officer then accused the Tories of being ‘wholly corrupt’ in leaking the story to intimidate him and his investigation.
But he was forced to apologise after then party leader David Cameron said the claim ‘Tory machinery’ was mobilised against his investigation was ‘completely baseless’.
Mr Green was later cleared of any wrongdoing.
The allegations about what was found on his computer were only levelled by the former officers after the standards investigation was launched.
Met chief Cressida Dick has said the former officers’ actions were ‘wrong’ and the force has referred the issues to the Information Commissioner