A police officer accused of being the mole was acquitted by a jury last month after Steve told the court the man was not his source. But the journalist would not reveal the name of his contact. Steve is being called before Manchester Crown Court on Thursday morning to face contempt charges. He could face instant jail.
 

Understandably Steve is very worried. Please send an urgent email to your MP to protest about the case. A model email is printed below for you to fill in the gaps and cut and paste. You can find your MP's email address at one of these two sites: 

http://www.urban75.com/Action/politicians.html

http://www.abisti.demon.co.uk/links/mp/

Please do it as soon as you can. If you cannot find your MP's email you can write to him or her at House of Commons, London, SW1A OAA. Feel free to change the letter if you want to.

If you get a reply and you have time please send me a copy by email to this addresses, by fax to 0161 832 8196 or by post to 22 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JQ.

There will be a picket of Manchester Crown Court from 10am on Thursday.
Please come if you can. Banners are welcome. Please forward this message to anyone who you think will help.
 

Miles Barter
Northern Regional Organiser

Here is the model email

Dear NAME OF MP

I am writing to you, as my local MP ( I live at FILL IN YOUR ADDRESS) to ask
you to make representations about the case of Manchester Evening News
journalist Steve Panter.

Steve is facing prosecution for contempt of court over a story he wrote naming the main suspect in the Manchester bombing and reporting that the police and Crown Prosecution Service had decided to take no action. 

Steve is refusing to name the source of his story - in line with the National Union of Journalists' code of ethical conduct.

A police officer who was accused of being the mole was acquitted by a jury last month, after Steve told the court the man was not his source. Steve refused to name his contact and faces contempt charges. He could be jailed.

The NUJ believes that the conduct of the investigation into the Manchester bombing is a legitimate matter for public debate. The union further believes that the attempt to prosecute Steve Panter is designed to scare other journalists who may want to investigate public bodies.

Steve is in particular danger if he is jailed. As the Evening News's crime reporter for many years he reported on the activities of many people who are now prison inmates.

I would be grateful if you would raise these concerns with the Home Secretary as a matter of urgency as Steve is to appear before Manchester Crown Court on Thursday February 14. The sooner this prosecution - a waste of public money - is brought to an end the better.

I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely

FILL IN YOUR NAME