BBC admits to using private detectives for 'news gathering'

Under fire: The BBC has admitted using private detectives to research news stories
Oliver Poole12 April 2012

The BBC was under fire today after revealing that it used private investigators in news gathering.

These allegedly included a detective associated with illegal activity exposed by Panorama last night.

In a statement the corporation said: "The BBC like the rest of the media employs private investigators on occasion to research stories which are in the public interest."

Insiders said Panorama was among the programmes which purchased such services. Last night's programme focused on Southern Investigations, which was accused of introducing the News of the World to a hacker who used a computer virus to illegally obtain sensitive emails from a former Army intelligence officer.

Panorama said the SI employee was Jonathan Rees. Rees subsequently claimed that he had worked for Panorama on two programmes in the early Nineties.
He was charged with the murder of former business partner Daniel Morgan and spent two years on remand before the case against him collapsed last Friday. He already has a criminal conviction for perverting the course of justice.

Panorama reporters were at court for the end of the case and confronted him. It is alleged that he first made the claim about working for Panorama then, which was edited from the programme.

The BBC said it found no evidence Rees had ever worked for them. News International said it has received no evidence of wrongdoing related to the allegations in Panorama.

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