Two Sun journalists to be charged under Operation Elveden
John Edwards and Jamie Pyatt accused over conspiracy to pay more than £30,000 to public officials including Broadmoor worker
The Sun: picture editor John Edwards and journalist Jamie Pyatt are to face charges under the Met's Operation Elveden. Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian
Two Sun journalists will be charged alongside a former Broadmoor worker over a conspiracy to pay more than £30,000 to public officials for unauthorised leaks.
John Edwards, the Sun's pictures editor, and the journalist Jamie Pyatt are to be charged along with Robert Neave, a former healthcare assistant at the high-security hospital, with conspiring to commit misconduct in public office.
The Sun is alleged to have paid more than £30,000 to public officials including police officers, army personnel and Broadmoor officials for information for stories, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said on Friday.
Gregor McGill, a senior CPS lawyer, said the Sun allegedly paid for information related to the health and activities of Broadmoor patients, the work of a member of the royal family and details of ongoing police investigations.
The three, who were arrested under Scotland Yard's Operation Elveden investigation, will appear before Westminster magistrates' court on 18 July.
McGill said: "In relation to the specific allegations in this case, it is alleged that over a period of almost nine years the Sun newspaper made payments totalling more than £30,000 to public officials including police officers, army personnel and Broadmoor officials, including Robert Neave, in exchange for information.
"It is alleged that the information for which the Sun made payments included that relating to the health and activities of Broadmoor patients, details about the work of a member of the royal family and details of ongoing police investigations.
"All of these matters were considered carefully in accordance with the code for crown prosecutors and the DPP's guidelines on the public interest in cases affecting the media. These guidelines asks prosecutors to consider whether the public interest served by the conduct in question outweighs the overall criminality before bringing criminal proceedings.
"Accordingly, we have authorised the institution of proceedings against Jamie Pyatt, John Edwards and Robert Neave and all three individuals will appear before Westminster magistrates' court on 18 July 2013.
"May I remind all concerned that proceedings for criminal offences involving these three individuals will now be commenced and that each has a right to a fair trial. It is very important that nothing is said, or reported, which could prejudice that trial. For these reasons it would be inappropriate for me to comment further."
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