Cabinet Office faced criminal probe over blocked Spycatcher documents

Freedom of information watchdog’s investigation team called in after UK officials repeatedly refused access to government files

A criminal investigation team at the freedom of information watchdog has examined a complaint against the Cabinet Office, after it blocked the release of files concerning the intelligence agent Peter Wright and the Spycatcher affair.

Tim Tate, a documentary-maker and author, complained to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) last June that the Cabinet Office had repeatedly given inaccurate information to justify withholding the files after he had requested their release.