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No charges against US hacker

Gary McKinnon, who is wanted in the US after hacking into the Pentagon's computers, will not face charges in Britain. The CPS reviewed his case after the Government blocked his extradition to America in October on health grounds.

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United States 'disappointed' by McKinnon decision

The United States has expressed its disappointment in the decision taken by the CPS not to prosecute Gary McKinnon. The US Embassy in London released a statement saying:

The United States was disappointed by the UK Home Secretary’s decision not to extradite Gary McKinnon, particularly in light of the UK courts’ and prior Home Secretaries’ decisions that he should face trial in the United States.

We note that the Home Secretary acknowledged the seriousness of the crimes of which Mr. McKinnon is accused, and described this case as exceptional, indicating that her decision does not set a precedent for future cases.

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Police and CPS explain McKinnon decision

The Director of Public Prosecutions and the Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service released a joint statement explaining their decision not to take further action against Gary McKinnon.

They identified a number of reasons why pursuing a prosecution would not be in the public interest:

  • Gary McKinnon is was originally supposed to be tried in the US; in October 2012, when the Home Secretary decided not to extradite him, there was no live criminal investigation against him in the UK, nor had there been for many years
  • As far as building a case against McKinnon in the UK was concerned, "the harm occurred in the US", the investigation was launched in the US, most of the witnesses are in the US and nearly all the physical evidence is in the US
  • US authorities, though willing to co-operate with a prosecution, would not agree transfer witnesses or evidence to the UK
  • The "prospect of a conviction in the UK which reflects the full extent of his alleged criminality are not high"

'CPS have declared decision not to prosecute McKinnon'

The Crown Prosecution Service have declared their decision not to prosecute Gary McKinnon in the UK.

They state that the appropriate jurisdiction would be the United States, which is an interesting decision bearing in mind Mr McKinnon was originally arrested and interviewed by British police in 2002.

Mr McKinnon has always indicated that he would be willing to plead guilty to an offence under the Misuse of Computers Act but clearly cannot do so if he is not going to be prosecuted.

Mr McKinnon's legal team remains aware that his extradition warrant is still outstanding and will seek to explore other ways in which Mr McKinnon can receive complete closure on this long saga.

– Gary McKinnon's solicitors Kaim Todner

McKinnon won't face any further criminal action

Computer hacker Gary McKinnon will face no further criminal action, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, has said.

The decision follows a review of the case after the Government's decision to block his extradition to the United States in October on health grounds.

Mr McKinnon, 46, from Wood Green, north London, would have faced up to 60 years in prison if convicted in the US.

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