Eleventh arrest over News of the World phone hacking

The man is understood to be Stuart Kuttner, 71, who resigned as the News of the World‘s managing editor in July 2009.

After a brief search of an address in Essex police officers carried away boxes of papers and a computer drive.

The arrest was part of Operation Weeting, which is conducting investigations into phone hacking, and of Operation Elveden, which is looking into allegations of inappropriate payments to police.

The 71-year-old old was released on bail on Tuesday evening pending further inquiries.

The arrest is the 11th so far this year in connection with the police inquiries.

Those questioned include former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and former Downing Street communications chief Andy Coulson.

The NoW, whose reporters have been at the centre of the scandal, was closed down last month after allegations that 4,000 phones could have been hacked.

More from Channel 4 News: Mother of murdered Sarah Payne 'targeted by hackers'

Murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and Sara Payne, the mother of Sarah Payne, who was abducted and murdered by Roy Whiting, are among those believed to have had their phone messages intercepted.

Mr Kuttner has previously denied his decision to quit was connected to the Guardian’s disclosure that the NoW paid out more than £1m to settle cases which threatened to reveal evidence of alleged hacking. Payments to the convicted phone hacker Glenn Mulcaire would have gone through his office.

At the time of his resignation, he was described by then-editor Colin Myler as a man whose “DNA is absolutely integrated into the newspaper which he has represented across the media with vigour”.

He was an “outstanding managing editor” who was “a major driving force behind the success of Sarah’s Law”, Mr Myler said.