Barclays £25m blackmail case shrouded in secrecy

Barclays has asked for a £25m blackmail case involving Barclaycard to be heard behind closed doors later this month, such are the bank's fears about information on the security of its computer systems leaking out.

Barclays has asked for a closed court, or in camera, hearing - normally reserved for matters of national security - because it is worried about customer reactions to information that could get out during a high-profile court case.

Graham Browne, a former encryption expert at Barclays, has denied charges that he tried to extort £25m from Barclays to be paid to 14 named individuals.

According to the Guardian, Browne worked for Barclaycard at a computer centre in Radbroke Hall near Chester. He resigned from his post running the encryption unit early last year.

While no decision has been made yet on how the case will proceed it is possible any sensitive information, such as encryption keys or the threat posed to the system from hackers, may be heard in camera and stricken from any documents presented as evidence.