Prosecutors review tabloid phone tap case
Updated on 10 July 2009
Prosecutors are "urgently" reviewing evidence on alleged phone hacking by the News of the World.
Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer QC said he wanted to reassure himself and the public that "appropriate actions" were taken over material provided by the police three years ago.
His announcement came after police said they would not be mounting a new investigation into fresh allegations that thousands of public figures had their phones tapped by journalists.
The victims are said to have included former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, PR agent Max Clifford, Mayor of London Boris Johnson and actress Gwyneth Paltrow.
Mr Starmer said: "I have now ordered an urgent examination of the material that was supplied to the CPS by the police three years ago. I am taking this action to satisfy myself and assure the public that the appropriate actions were taken in relation to that material."
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner John Yates said police had seen no additional evidence since its last investigation, which ended with the jailing of News of the World royal reporter Clive Goodman in 2007.
Goodman was jailed for four months and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire for six months after they were found guilty of phone hacking.
The scandal led to the resignation of then News of the World editor Andy Coulson - now the Tories' PR chief. Conservative leader David Cameron defended his director of communications as Labour MPs lined up to demand his sacking.
The cross-party Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee is reopening an inquiry held after Goodman was jailed.
Chairman John Whittingdale said it would be asking former News International chief Les Hinton whether he wished to amend his previous assertion that no other journalists knew of Mr Goodman's activities. Mr Coulson may also be called to give evidence, among several present and former News International executives.
The row broke out after the Guardian reported that News Group Newspapers - part of Rupert Murdoch's News International empire which publishes the News of the World - has paid out more than £1 million to settle cases that threatened to reveal evidence of its journalists' involvement in telephone hacking.
News International said it was prevented by "confidentiality obligations" from discussing the allegations.
The group said in a statement: "Since February 2007, News International has continued to work with its journalists and its industry partners to ensure that its journalists fully comply with both the relevant legislation and the rigorous requirements of the PCC's Code of Conduct.
"At the same time, we will not shirk from vigorously defending our right and proper role to expose wrongdoing in the public interest."
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