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Cliff Richard wins BBC privacy case at High Court

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Latest news in Yorkshire: July 18, 2018 12:09:41 PM

Sir Cliff Richard has won his privacy case against the BBC over its coverage
of a police raid on his home.

High Court judge Mr Justice Mann awarded an initial £210,000 in damages.

The singer claimed the BBC’s reporting of the 2014 raid, which was part of
an investigation into historical child sex allegations, was a “serious
invasion” of privacy. He was never arrested or charged.

The BBC said journalists acted in good faith and it is considering an
appeal.

Speaking outside the High Court in London, the BBC’s director of news and
current affairs Fran Unsworth apologised to Sir Cliff and said: “In
retrospect, there are things we would have done differently.”

But, she said, the case marked a “significant shift” against press freedom
and an “important principle” around the public’s right to know was at stake.

In his judgement, Mr Justice Mann said the BBC had infringed Sir Cliff’s
privacy rights in a “serious” and “sensationalist” way.

He rejected the BBC’s case that its reporting, which included footage filmed
from a helicopter, was justified under rights of freedom of expression and
of the press.

Mr Justice Mann said a suspect in a police investigation “has a reasonable
expectation of privacy” and while Sir Cliff being investigated “might be of
interest to the gossip-monger”, there was not a “genuine public interest”
case.

Read full BBC story: https://goo.gl/3PoEDr

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