Lords to discuss evidence

The extent to which information obtained from unauthorised interception ofcommunications

made by means of a public telecommunications system can beused as evidence in court is

to be argued over before the Law Lords. Theyhave granted leave for an appeal in the case

of Stephen Morgans, convictedof unauthorised access to a computer system. The High Court

later quashedhis conviction but the House of Lords has been given leave to

questioninterpretation of sections 1 and 9 of the Interception of CommunicationsAct

1985. The Law Lords will be asked to decide if, on their trueconstruction, the two

sections prohibit use in court or at tribunal ofevidence of such communications in the

absence of a warrant issued underthe act.