British Cops Hack Into Government Computers 247
CmdrGravy writes "The British Police have hacked into Government computers as part of the on-going 'cash for peerages' investigation. They've uncovered evidence which has, so far, led to one arrest and charge of perverting the course of justice for a leading Labour party figure. This charge carries a potential life sentence. The British police have the power to hack into computer systems as part of an investigation. On previous occasions they have said they did not believe the government was providing them with the information they had been asking for and had warned that they would seek other methods to gather evidence. The police won't say what tools they have used. From the article: 'The investigators did not have to notify No 10 if they were "hacking" into its system. One legal expert said: "In some cases, a senior officer can give permission. In other cases, you might need the authorization of an independent commissioner, who is usually a retired judge appointed by the Home Office."'"
That's Hot (Score:5, Funny)
Cash for peerages? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Cash for peerages? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:What's wrong with the UK? (Score:3, Funny)
The police won't say (Score:5, Funny)
Re:The police won't say (Score:3, Funny)
Britney Spears.
Yup, someone holding my eyelids open so that I had to look at another picture of Britney's cellulite? Or that "upskirt" shot of her rather ravaged beaver? It would have me confessing to anything.
The hack was actually easy because (Score:5, Funny)
Re:What's wrong with the UK? (Score:5, Funny)
I think I'm safe in saying it wasn't the Metropolitan or City Police.
This is getting rather serious (Score:5, Funny)
In the present case what is terrifying Government Ministers and senior figures in New Labour is that they may be charged with anti competitive behaviour and market manipulation - distorting the free market in peerages and other honours, and colluding with other honours suppliers. If the police start to suspect something like this has gone on, the Office of Fair Trading and the European Commission could get involved, and you know that when the Competition Directorate moves, terror strikes.
It is truly tragic. Britain was always famous around the world as the country that operated the most open and transparent market for honours of all sorts. Its a great pity it has come to this.
Re:What's wrong with the UK? (Score:5, Funny)
Worringly, I would say it's quite likely there's a compiled VB4 package somewhere that runs under Win95 on an old Compaq 486 (DX, yay!) that has a tickbox marked 'Have you asked the Americans if it's OK?' that then enables a big red button that does the deed. Worse still, it's 30 lines of code, a 3rd party OCX (From the 'Custom Nuclear Controls Corporation') and cost £3.5bn to develop by a consortium of consultancies. Oh, and they lost the source code and the PC isn't backed up.
Re:Curiosity (Score:3, Funny)
Really the lesson here is that the British can fool an American by replacing a word with its definition.
Obvious! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Curiosity (Score:2, Funny)
Update: (Score:3, Funny)
PC James Smith (now Lord Smith of Whitekirk) and Det Sgt Margaret Jackson (now Dame Jackson of Drumadoon) have said that nothing of interest was found. The supervising officer Det Insp Michael Parks (Now Lord Parks of Worth Matravers) stated that whilst nothing untoward had been identified, the procedures surrounding the "hacking" and its legality would be revised. "This revision is to be taken as the intrusion into downing street computers has caused undue distress and concern to members of the British government, and is therefore probably in contravention of the European Unions Human Rights Legislation" said a downing street media official Martin Smith-Spinalot. Lord Parks also noted that Mr John Hackeby, the home office official that had authorised the intrusion had been fired from the home office for theft of office supples and is in the process of being extradited to the United States due to his involvement in online gambling, terrorist funding and drugs trafficing, for which the US State department has said it probably has some sort of evidence, or could find some by strengthening or introduction legislation to allow it to do "anything it wants to do to fight bad things".
(just in case anybody missed it, the above is fictitious and intended as light humour)
Re:lol (Score:2, Funny)
England++
Re:Cash for peerages? (Score:3, Funny)
-Eric
Re:lol (Score:4, Funny)
Yes, the British system of government is fabulous.
Especially if you want to buy a peerage.
Re:lol (Score:2, Funny)
...or Scotland, if you can stand the rain, cold wind, sarcasm, fried food and alcoholism.
Re:Thank You (Score:2, Funny)
This "LOL GUYS I BLEW BEVERAGE OUT OF MY NOSE" shit got old a really long, long time ago. I don't welcome our new beverage spilling overlords.
in soviet russia, beverage blows you!