Brockley journalist charged in corrupt payments investigation

This is Local London reports:

A Brockley journalist for The Sun has been charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office over alleged inappropriate payments.

The tabloid's Whitehall editor Clodagh Hartley, aged 38, and Jonathan Hall, from HMRC, are both facing charges, along with Mr Hall's partner Marta Bukarewicz, who is not a public official.

It is alleged that between March 30 2008 and July 15 2011 The Sun newspaper paid £17,475 to Hall, mostly via Bukarewicz, in exchange for the unauthorised disclosure of information.

The information that was allegedly provided included details relating to the 2010 Budget and the coalition's deficit reduction plans. They are facing charges brought as part of Operation Elveden, Scotland Yard's investigation into alleged corrupt payments to public officials by journalists.