A POLICE authority is not to press ahead with plans for court orders to stop the Press reporting long-running corruption inquiries.

Cleveland Police Authority dropped the suggestion, made in a report by its lead officer, at a meeting yesterday.

Chairman Councillor Ken Walker said: "It is not my intention to be part of any system which would prevent the ability of the Press in its important role of ensuring that knowledge is circulated in a factual way."

The idea of discretionary court orders to prevent comment in the media on ongoing investigations, other than as to the stage they have reached, was in a report by Peter Riney.

The proposal was put forward as part of a possible submission to Sir John Hoddinott's review of the police complaints process, which is taking Teesside's Operation Lancet police corruption inquiry as a case study.

Coun Walker said: "I have found over the past three or four years the local Press to be very helpful, particularly over our position relating to Lancet.

Councillor Dave McLuckie said he would oppose in the strongest possible terms any move to bring in gagging laws.

He said: "The public have a right, wherever possible, to have a free flow of information."