Archive

Large scale document archive

1983 Oct 24 - 1984 Apr 9
Prime Ministerial Private Office files

PREM19/1381
Security (Information leaked by ‘The Guardian’ about siting of cruise nuclear missiles at Greenham Common; Sarah Tisdall not referred to Security Commission)

Source: TNA, PREM19 series
Release date: 2018 Dec 28
Classification: Confidential
Page count: 93
Any docs withheld? 2
Themes: Media, Executive, Judiciary, Law & order, Foreign policy (USSR & successor states), Defence (general), Defence (arms control), Security services & intelligence

PREM19/1381 - download whole file (PDF, 22.84 MB)

Selections from this file

Showing items 1 - 18 of 18

Date Value Title
83 Oct 24 Mo Major Security: Ministry of Defence letter to Cabinet Office ("Leak Inquiry: Cruise Missiles"") [background, and handling of the investigation] [declassified Dec 2018]
83 Nov 3 Th Major Security: No.10 briefing for MT ("Meeting with Sir Robert Armstrong at 0830 on Friday, 4 November") [candidate to head Police Department in the Home Office; leak to 'Guardian' newspaper regarding Cruise deployment, and decision on Government legal action] [declassified Dec 2018]
83 Nov 4 Fr Major Security: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Robert Armstrong) [leak to 'Guardian' newspaper regarding Cruise deployment; MT decides against Attorney General instituting proceedings] [declassified Dec 2018]
83 Nov 10 Th Major Security: Heseltine minute to MT ("Leak to the Guardian on Cruise Missiles") [urges attempt to recover leaked document from 'Guardian' in order to identify source of leak] [declassified Dec 2018]
83 Nov 10 Th Major Security: Cabinet Office minute to No.10 (involvement of police and Director of Public Prosecutions in leak inquiries) [line to take for PMQs, regarding confusion of DES leak with leak regarding Cruise missiles] [declassified Dec 2018]
83 Nov 18 Fr Major Security: Heseltine PS letter to No.10 ("Leak to the Guardian on Cruise Missiles") [how to respond to Guardian refusal to return leaked document intact with details which might identify source of leak; MT opposed to journalists being jailed in the event of non-compliance with court order] [declassified Dec 2018]
83 Nov 27 Su Major Security: Sir Keith Joseph PS to Permanent Under Secretary of the Home Office ("Leaks and Scotland Yard") [DES public statement rebutting press briefing by Scotland Yard] [declassified Dec 2018]
83 Dec 15 Th Major Security: Heseltine PS letter to No.10 (press leak concerning delivery of Cruise missiles to Greenham Common) [High Court decision given in favour of Government bid to recover minute leaked to 'Guardian' newspaper] [declassified Dec 2018]
83 Dec 21 We Major Security: Cabinet Office letter to Department of Defence ("Leak Inquiry: Cruise Missiles") [DPP directs police to investigate and interview officials] [declassified Dec 2018]
83 Dec 22 Th Major Security: Home Office letter to Cabinet Office ("Leaks and Scotland Yard") [findings of internal investigation into involvement of police press office in stories about MoD & DES leaks] [declassified Dec 2018]
84 Jan 9 Mo Major Security: Cabinet Office minute to No.10 (Sarah Tisdall case) [leak of document about Cruise missile arrival at Greenham Common; source identified in Defence Secretary's Private Office] [declassified Dec 2018]
84 Jan 12 Th Major Security: Cabinet Secretary minute to MT (Sarah Tisdall case) [Howe's urges Whitehall inquiry to draw up recommendations designed to avoid risk of recurrence; Armstrong's outline of key concerns & Whitehall measures already in hand] [declassified Dec 2018]
84 Jan 24 Tu Major Security: Cabinet Office minute to Lord Bridge (Sarah Tisdall case) [views sought on case for referral to Security Commission] [declassified Dec 2018]
84 Feb 14 Tu Major Security: FCO letter to Cabinet Office (Sarah Tisdall case) [summary of internal security measures in wake of the case] [declassified Dec 2018]
84 Mar 16 Fr Major Security: Cabinet Office minute to No.10 ("Security Commission: Miss Sarah Tisdall") [argument for referral of case to Commission; MT asks to discuss before deciding] [declassified Dec 2018]
84 Mar 23 Fr Major Security: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Robert Armstrong) ["Security Commission: Miss Sarah Tisdall"] [declassified Dec 2018]
84 Mar 27 Tu Major Security: Cabinet Office minute to No.10 ("Security Commission: Miss Sarah Tisdall") [MT agrees with argument for not referring case to Security Commission] [declassified Dec 2018]
84 Apr 9 Mo Major Security: Law Officers' Department letter to No.10 ("Miss Sarah Tisdall") [background to decision not to prosecute 'Guardian' for publication of leaked memo, relating to deployment of Cruise missiles] [declassified Dec 2018]