Hacking scandal: Met launches new probe

The Metropolitan police has told Channel 4 News that a new team will be formed to investigate a number of allegations including computer hacking.

The Met said: “Since January 2011 the Metropolitan Police Service has received a number of allegations regarding breach of privacy which fall outside the remit of Operation Weeting, including computer hacking.

“Some aspects of this operation will move forward to a formal investigation.

“There will be a new team reporting DAC Sue Akers. The formation of that team is yet to take place.”

Formal criminal investigation

Some aspects of this operation will move forward to a formal investigation. There will be a new team reporting DAC Sue Akers. Met Spokesman

It comes after Home Affairs correspondent Andy Davies revealed that one complainant had been told the case had moved from an initial ‘scoping’ exercise into a formal criminal investigation.

Former army intelligence officer Ian Hurst told Channel 4 that he had been informed by the Met this week.

A private investigator working for News of the World allegedly hacked into Mr Hurst’s computer in 2006 and retrieved sensitive emails regarding Northern Ireland security matters.

Police officers working for Operation Tuleta have informed me that they have identified information of evidential value in regards to my family’s computer being illegally accessed over a sustained period of 2006. Ian Hurst, Former army intelligence officer

In a statement, Mr Hurst said: “Police officers working for Operation Tuleta have informed me that they have identified information of evidential value in regards to my family’s computer being illegally accessed over a sustained period of 2006.

“The decision by the Metropolitan Police to proceed to a full criminal investigation was conveyed to me this week by Tuleta police officers.”

Ongoing investigations

It’s the latest development in the hacking scandal, which will see the first public hearings in the inquiry held in September.

Prime Minister David Cameron asked Lord Leveson to lead an inquiry into the phone-hacking scandal after the allegations rocked Britain, leading to the closure of the News of the World, arrests, resignations from media bosses and top policemen, and the derailment of a major media takeover bid.