From: Julia Bainbridge
Sent: 19 May 2005 16:32
To: Jane Bryant
Subject: The Palace of Westminster
 
 
 
Jane,
 
Excellent news about the police making the right decision, I hope its a weight off your mind.
 
As discussed, I confirm the outcome of the telephone conversation I had with PC Gary Baker at the Palace of Westminster on 13 May 2005.
 
I was given his details by PC Clarke of Southall police.  PC Clark was under the impression that 'Westminster police' were investigating an allegation made by the Countess of Mar regarding 'harassment'.  I called PC Baker who told me that approximately three weeks previously, the Countess had spoken to officials of the Houses of Parliament and asked them to look into an allegation of harassment by Jane Bryant via the 'one-click group' towards the 'Merge' charity.  She is a patron of the charity and therefore felt that what had been said was directed at her.  PC Baker looked into the allegation and viewed the web site containing references to the Merge charity.  He said that he had decided that at this stage, since no direct e-mails had been sent to the Countess and there had been no formal 'harassment' according to law, what had been put on the web site did not constitute an offence under criminal law.  He said that he intended to inform the Countess of this decision and advise her that if she wished to take the matter any further, she should consider an action for defamation, which is a civil action rather than criminal.  This would not involve the police and whether there had been defamatory quotes on the site would need to be construed by the civil courts.
 
PC Baker said that unless anything else came to light which constituted a criminal offence, he would not be pursuing the allegation.
 
I hope this helps.
 
May I wish you and Angela all the best in the future.
 
Regards,
 
 
Julia Bainbridge
SAUNDERS SOLICITORS LLP
 
 
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