Met Police faces MPs over phone hacking

The Home Affairs Select Committee has called Sir Paul Stephenson to answer questions about the role of the Metropolitan Police in the phone-hacking scandal which has rocked Britain.

In particular, it has concerns over the relationship between the Met and journalists with links to News International – especially the hiring of former News of the World deputy editor Neil Wallis, who worked as a consultant for the Met in 2009.

Mr Wallis was arrested last week as part of the police investigation into phone hacking. Sir Paul stepped down from his post on Sunday, citing allegations about his association with Mr Wallis and his acceptance of thousands of pounds’ worth of free accommodation at a luxury health spa where Mr Wallis also worked as a consultant.

Police evidence

After Sir Paul gives evidence, the Met’s Director of Public Affairs, Dick Fedorcio, will face MPs. Earlier, the Met confirmed he has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

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In a statement, it said: “The MPS can confirm that this morning, Tuesday 19 July, it has referred Dick Fedorcio, Director of Public Affairs, to the IPCC.

“The context of this referral is in connection with the ongoing high level public interest in the relationship between News International and the MPS and, in particular, the relationship between Neil Wallis and Mr Fedorcio and the circumstances under which the contract was awarded to Chamy Media.”

Former Assistant Commissioner John Yates will also be quizzed by MPs. He has also resigned from his post over allegations the Met was too close to the press. He quit on Monday, amid questions over whether the Met has investigated phone-hacking fully enough over the past few years.

He said his “conscience was clear” as he stepped down, but he was warned he faced investigation by the IPCC if he did not resign. He has given evidence to MPs before but at the time was told they would be likely to call him again.

The Met is also facing questions over the hiring of Mr Wallis’s daughter, as well as the employment of another former News of the World employee, Alex Marunchak, who was used by the police as a Ukrainian language interpreter while he worked at the paper.

Later today, News Corporation bosses Rupert and James Murdoch and former executive Rebekah Brooks will face a different committee of MPs over their role in the scandal.