Some correspondence with Norfolk Police
Dec 9, 2010
Bishop Hill in Climate: CRU

A few people have been wondering how Norfolk Constabulary have been getting on with their investigation into the leak/hack at UEA. I had been wondering the same thing myself, and just before the Climategate anniversary, I wrote to the to see how things were coming along. I had had some prior dealings with Norwich's finest at the time of Climategate, when the force's media office had helpfully sent some press releases to me. This meant I had a named contact I could approach directly.

My first letter went out on 5th November:

Dear Harry
 
We are shortly heading for the anniversary of the Climategate affair and I was wondering whether you will be releasing a statement on the progress of the investigation. In particular, it would be good to know if the investigation has determined whether the offence being investigated was a hack or a leak.
 
Cheers
 
Andrew

Three days later, I'd heard nothing, so I wrote again:

Dear Harry

Just wondered if I could get a response to this inquiry.

The following day, Harry came good:

Hi Andrew, apologies for the delay, I have asked Nicola in my team to chase the officers for a statement that marks the anniversary. Nicola will be in touch shortly. I know she has put the request in and that she’s waiting back a response. Thanks Harry

By the end of the month, I'd heard nothing at all, so I wrote to Harry once again.

Did anything ever appear here? I didn't see anything.

Thanks

A couple of hours later, I got a reply:

No, nothing has appeared to date and we have had no recent requests for a statement.

This was rather strange, in a "par for the course for dealing with civil servants" kind of way. One would have assumed that Harry might have seen my approach as a "request for a statement". However, just to be sure I replied as follows:

Could you please issue a statement on the progress of the investigation.

Thanks

Despite sending a reminder, there has been no response as yet.

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