Senior British politicians, including both contenders to be the next prime minister, joined journalists on Saturday in criticising police for warning media not to publish leaked government documents, saying it was a "dangerous road to tread".

Last week, a Sunday newspaper published leaked memos from Britain's Washington ambassador that provoked a serious <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-top-envoy-in-us-says-trump-executive-inept-report-233737">diplomatic spat</a> with US President Donald Trump and ultimately led to the envoy announcing his resignation.

Britain's most senior counter-terrorism officer, Neil Basu, said on Friday police would investigate who was responsible but also warned journalists and publishers they too could be in breach of the law if further documents were leaked.

"I would advise all owners, editors and publishers of social and mainstream media not to publish leaked government documents that may already be in their possession, or which may be offered to them, and to turn them over to the police or give them back to their rightful owner, Her Majesty’s Government," Basu said.

His comments provoked anger and criticism from journalists, editors and politicians who said it risked infringing the freedom of the press

"The state threatening media freedom is a dangerous road to tread," Health Minister Matt Hancock said on Twitter. George Osborne, the editor of the London Evening Standard and a former finance minister, described the remarks as a "very stupid and ill-advised statement from a junior officer who doesn’t appear to understand much about press freedom".

"I cannot think of a worse example of a heavy-handed approach by the police to attempt to curtail the role of the media as a defence against the powerful and those in authority,” said Ian Murray, Executive Director of the Society of Editors.

"Frankly it is the kind of approach we would expect from<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/very-stupid-guy-donald-trump-renews-attack-on-uk-ambassador-theresa-may-234370"> totalitarian regimes</a> where the media are expected to be little more than a tame arm of the government."

Both men battling to replace Theresa May as prime minister when she steps down on July 24 because she failed to deliver Britain's exit from the European Union also said Basu was wrong.

"That is their job"

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and his predecessor Boris Johnson said the leaker should be found but the press should not be targeted.

"It cannot be conceivably right that newspapers or any other media organisation publishing such material should face prosecution," Johnson, also a former mayor of London, told an event in central England.

Hunt wrote on Twitter: "I defend to the hilt the right of the press to publish those leaks if they receive them &amp; judge them to be in the public interest: that is their job."

The Mail on Sunday newspaper last week published cables from Kim Darroch, Britain's ambassador to the United States, in which he called the Trump administration "inept", prompting the president to label him "very stupid" and "wacky".

The spat has become one of the central issues of the contest for the leadership of the governing Conservative Party and the next prime minister that will be decided by about 160,000 members of the Conservative Party. A diplomatic source told Reuters that the lack of backing from the frontrunner, Boris Johnson, had been a factor in Darroch's decision to resign.

Johnson himself acknowledged his comments had been partly responsible but denied he was to blame.

Not all politicians, though, felt the police were wrong. Security minister Ben Wallace said members of the public were bound by parts of the Official Secrets Act.

"If (journalists) are receiving stolen material they should give it back to their rightful owner and they should also be aware of the huge damage that's already been done and the potentially even greater damage that could be done," former defence minister Michael Fallon told BBC radio.

Senior British politicians, including both contenders to be the next prime minister, joined journalists on Saturday in criticising police for warning media not to publish leaked government documents, saying it was a "dangerous road to tread".

Senior British politicians, including both contenders to be the next prime minister, joined journalists on Saturday in criticising police for warning media not to publish leaked government documents, saying it was a "dangerous road to tread". Last week, a Sunday newspaper published leaked memos from Britain's Washington ambassador that provoked a serious diplomatic spat with US President Donald Trump and ultimately led to the envoy announcing his resignation. Britain's most senior counter-terrorism officer, Neil Basu, said on Friday police would investigate who was responsible but also warned journalists and publishers they too could be in breach of the law if further documents were leaked. "I would advise all owners, editors and publishers of social and mainstream media not to publish leaked government documents that may already be in their possession, or which may be offered to them, and to turn them over to the police or give them back to their rightful owner, Her Majesty’s Government," Basu said. His comments provoked anger and criticism from journalists, editors and politicians who said it risked infringing the freedom of the press "The state threatening media freedom is a dangerous road to tread," Health Minister Matt Hancock said on Twitter. George Osborne, the editor of the London Evening Standard and a former finance minister, described the remarks as a "very stupid and ill-advised statement from a junior officer who doesn’t appear to understand much about press freedom". "I cannot think of a worse example of a heavy-handed approach by the police to attempt to curtail the role of the media as a defence against the powerful and those in authority,” said Ian Murray, Executive Director of the Society of Editors. "Frankly it is the kind of approach we would expect from totalitarian regimes where the media are expected to be little more than a tame arm of the government." Both men battling to replace Theresa May as prime minister when she steps down on July 24 because she failed to deliver Britain's exit from the European Union also said Basu was wrong. "That is their job" Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and his predecessor Boris Johnson said the leaker should be found but the press should not be targeted. "It cannot be conceivably right that newspapers or any other media organisation publishing such material should face prosecution," Johnson, also a former mayor of London, told an event in central England. Hunt wrote on Twitter: "I defend to the hilt the right of the press to publish those leaks if they receive them & judge them to be in the public interest: that is their job." The Mail on Sunday newspaper last week published cables from Kim Darroch, Britain's ambassador to the United States, in which he called the Trump administration "inept", prompting the president to label him "very stupid" and "wacky". The spat has become one of the central issues of the contest for the leadership of the governing Conservative Party and the next prime minister that will be decided by about 160,000 members of the Conservative Party. A diplomatic source told Reuters that the lack of backing from the frontrunner, Boris Johnson, had been a factor in Darroch's decision to resign. Johnson himself acknowledged his comments had been partly responsible but denied he was to blame. Not all politicians, though, felt the police were wrong. Security minister Ben Wallace said members of the public were bound by parts of the Official Secrets Act. "If (journalists) are receiving stolen material they should give it back to their rightful owner and they should also be aware of the huge damage that's already been done and the potentially even greater damage that could be done," former defence minister Michael Fallon told BBC radio.

UK police warning to media over diplomat's leaked memos stirs anger

Neil Basu, a senior Indian-origin Scotland Yard officer, was today appointed as the counter-terrorism chief, a job viewed by many as the toughest in British policing.&nbsp;

Basu, currently the Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner, will be promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations, according to an official announcement.&nbsp;

He will take charge as the force&#39;s National Lead for Counter Terrorism (CT) and the Head of the Met Police&#39;s Specialist Operations after the resignation of incumbent Mark Rowley on March 21.&nbsp;

Basu, whose father is of Indian origin, said &quot;It is a privilege to be asked to join the management board of the Met and to lead for CT policing at such a point in our history. It is both a challenge and a duty that I accept with humility and a sense of great purpose&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;I will lead to the best of my ability, the most extraordinary people I have ever worked with as they work night and day to counter terrorism,&quot; he said in a statement.&nbsp;

Basu was promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner in 2015 and at that time was posted to lead on protection and security, including Royalty and Specialist Protection, Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection, Aviation Policing and Protective Security Operations.&nbsp;

He took up his current role as Senior National Coordinator for counter-terrorism in October 2016, responsible for delivering the police response to pursuing terrorists and the forces prevent strategy aimed at de-radicalisation to prevent terror attacks.&nbsp;

Prior to that, Basu worked as a detective in all ranks up to Detective Superintendent in a range of areas including anti-corruption and homicide within the Met Police&#39;s Serious and Organised Crime Command.&nbsp;

He has also held the posts of area commander for South East London and Head of Armed Policing within the force.&nbsp;

&quot;I am delighted that Neil is joining our senior team. He takes on a job of enormous importance and responsibility leading counter-terrorism policing nationally and in London and is a worthy successor to Mark Rowley,&quot; Scotland Yard chief Cressida Dick said.&nbsp;

The Met Police Commissioner praised Basu for his &quot;skills, experience and character&quot; and described him as a leader of courage, compassion and integrity.&nbsp;

&quot;He has already undertaken some of the toughest jobs in policing, not least in the last year as senior national coordinator countering terrorism and has proven how good his judgment and resilience is... I know he will do a great job,&quot; she added.&nbsp;

Basu had been the front-runner for Britain&#39;s top job in counter-terrorism, often referred to as the toughest policing role in the country.&nbsp;

He is well regarded by others in policing as well as by MI5, the UK&#39;s internal security service which works closely with the police on countering terror attacks.&nbsp;

Scotland Yard said that a recruitment campaign will be launched later this month to fill Basu&#39;s current role as Senior National Coordinator.&nbsp;

In the interim, Commander Dean Haydon, who is the head of the Met&#39;s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) will undertake this role as temporary Deputy Assistant Commissioner and Senior National Coordinator.&nbsp;

Basu, whose father is of Indian origin, said It is a privilege to be asked to join the management board of the Met and to lead for CT policing at such a point in our history

Neil Basu, a senior Indian-origin Scotland Yard officer, was today appointed as the counter-terrorism chief, a job viewed by many as the toughest in British policing. Basu, currently the Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner, will be promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations, according to an official announcement. He will take charge as the force's National Lead for Counter Terrorism (CT) and the Head of the Met Police's Specialist Operations after the resignation of incumbent Mark Rowley on March 21. Basu, whose father is of Indian origin, said "It is a privilege to be asked to join the management board of the Met and to lead for CT policing at such a point in our history. It is both a challenge and a duty that I accept with humility and a sense of great purpose". "I will lead to the best of my ability, the most extraordinary people I have ever worked with as they work night and day to counter terrorism," he said in a statement. Basu was promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner in 2015 and at that time was posted to lead on protection and security, including Royalty and Specialist Protection, Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection, Aviation Policing and Protective Security Operations. He took up his current role as Senior National Coordinator for counter-terrorism in October 2016, responsible for delivering the police response to pursuing terrorists and the forces prevent strategy aimed at de-radicalisation to prevent terror attacks. Prior to that, Basu worked as a detective in all ranks up to Detective Superintendent in a range of areas including anti-corruption and homicide within the Met Police's Serious and Organised Crime Command. He has also held the posts of area commander for South East London and Head of Armed Policing within the force. "I am delighted that Neil is joining our senior team. He takes on a job of enormous importance and responsibility leading counter-terrorism policing nationally and in London and is a worthy successor to Mark Rowley," Scotland Yard chief Cressida Dick said. The Met Police Commissioner praised Basu for his "skills, experience and character" and described him as a leader of courage, compassion and integrity. "He has already undertaken some of the toughest jobs in policing, not least in the last year as senior national coordinator countering terrorism and has proven how good his judgment and resilience is... I know he will do a great job," she added. Basu had been the front-runner for Britain's top job in counter-terrorism, often referred to as the toughest policing role in the country. He is well regarded by others in policing as well as by MI5, the UK's internal security service which works closely with the police on countering terror attacks. Scotland Yard said that a recruitment campaign will be launched later this month to fill Basu's current role as Senior National Coordinator. In the interim, Commander Dean Haydon, who is the head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) will undertake this role as temporary Deputy Assistant Commissioner and Senior National Coordinator.

Indian-origin officer Neil Basu appointed as Scotland Yard's counter-terror chief

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UK police warning to media over diplomat's leaked memos stirs anger

Indian-origin officer Neil Basu appointed as Scotland Yard's counter-terror chief