CO
This from
The Observer:
All discussion here.
Quote:
Revelations about the deployment of Prince Harry to a war zone will be censored if the government agrees to a proposal that future information surrounding his military career is covered by a D-notice.
A D-notice - an official request to newspaper editors not to publish items on specified subjects for reasons of national security - can apply to individuals if there is thought to be a 'grave threat' to their safety.
Last week General Sir Richard Dannatt, the chief of the general staff, announced that 22-year-old Harry would not be joining fellow members of the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry in Iraq because he and his squadron would face unacceptable risks.
In making his decision, Dannatt showed his frustration at media coverage of the Prince's deployment.
'A contributing factor to the threat to Prince Harry has been the widespread knowledge and discussion of his deployment,' he said.
'This close scrutiny has exacerbated the situation and this is something I wish to avoid in the future.'
The Observer can reveal that Ministry of Defence officials are preparing a briefing paper for Bill Jeffrey, the department's permanent secretary, who chairs the Defence Press and Broadcasting Advisory committee, that would recommend to other members that Harry's movements be censored. They include representatives from the Home Office, the Foreign Office and the Cabinet Office and the media.
The committee has the power to recommend that the media does not publish information that 'involves grave danger to the to the state and or individuals'. The particular order that would be used is known as D.A. Notice Four. Now the MoD is considering a proposal to extend coverage so that it would include members of the royal family. 'The idea would be to broaden the coverage of notice 4 so that it included the prince,' an MoD source told The Observer. 'It is a perfectly reasonable step to take given what has happened over the past few weeks.'
The prince - the third in line to the throne - had been scheduled to serve with the Blues and Royals for a six-month tour of duty and would have taken command of four Scimitar armoured vehicles with 11 men under his command. The deployment of Harry's regiment was originally revealed on the Ministry of Defence's own website, a policy decision that has subsequently been criticised.
Threats were made that the Prince would be either killed or taken hostage.
Yesterday, in Iraq, the Prime Minister refused to discuss the decision concerning Harry, although troops on the ground welcomed the order.
A D-notice - an official request to newspaper editors not to publish items on specified subjects for reasons of national security - can apply to individuals if there is thought to be a 'grave threat' to their safety.
Last week General Sir Richard Dannatt, the chief of the general staff, announced that 22-year-old Harry would not be joining fellow members of the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry in Iraq because he and his squadron would face unacceptable risks.
In making his decision, Dannatt showed his frustration at media coverage of the Prince's deployment.
'A contributing factor to the threat to Prince Harry has been the widespread knowledge and discussion of his deployment,' he said.
'This close scrutiny has exacerbated the situation and this is something I wish to avoid in the future.'
The Observer can reveal that Ministry of Defence officials are preparing a briefing paper for Bill Jeffrey, the department's permanent secretary, who chairs the Defence Press and Broadcasting Advisory committee, that would recommend to other members that Harry's movements be censored. They include representatives from the Home Office, the Foreign Office and the Cabinet Office and the media.
The committee has the power to recommend that the media does not publish information that 'involves grave danger to the to the state and or individuals'. The particular order that would be used is known as D.A. Notice Four. Now the MoD is considering a proposal to extend coverage so that it would include members of the royal family. 'The idea would be to broaden the coverage of notice 4 so that it included the prince,' an MoD source told The Observer. 'It is a perfectly reasonable step to take given what has happened over the past few weeks.'
The prince - the third in line to the throne - had been scheduled to serve with the Blues and Royals for a six-month tour of duty and would have taken command of four Scimitar armoured vehicles with 11 men under his command. The deployment of Harry's regiment was originally revealed on the Ministry of Defence's own website, a policy decision that has subsequently been criticised.
Threats were made that the Prince would be either killed or taken hostage.
Yesterday, in Iraq, the Prime Minister refused to discuss the decision concerning Harry, although troops on the ground welcomed the order.
All discussion here.