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MPs set to question police over phone-hacking inquiry MPs set to question police over phone-hacking inquiry
(40 minutes later)
Two current and two former Metropolitan Police officers will be quizzed by MPs in public later about inquiries into phone-hacking at the News of the World. Senior Metropolitan Police officers will be quizzed by MPs in public later about inquiries into phone hacking at the News of the World.
Assistant Commissioner John Yates, Andy Hayman and Peter Clarke will appear before the Home Affairs Committee. MPs are expected to ask two former officers why the initial investigation in 2005 failed to uncover evidence of hacking of crime victims' phones.
MPs are expected to ask them why the initial investigation, started in 2005, failed to uncover evidence of hacking of crime victims' voicemail messages. Asst Commissioner John Yates, who ruled out reopening the inquiry in 2009, will also face the home affairs committee.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers will also appear before the committee. MPs will speak to the officer leading the current investigation as well.
She is leading the current investigation into phone hacking, Operation Weeting. The investigation, called Operation Weeting, is being led by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers.
Inquiry scope Under her lead, detectives are contacting nearly 4,000 people whose personal details were stored by private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.
Detectives are contacting nearly 4,000 people whose personal details were stored by private investigator Glenn Mulcaire. The committee is expected to ask former Assistant Commissioners Andy Hayman and Peter Clarke, the officers who supervised the original police inquiry, why that information was apparently overlooked.
The committee is expected to ask former Assistant Commissioners Mr Hayman and Mr Clarke, the officers who supervised the original police inquiry, why that information was apparently overlooked.
MPs want to know if the decision to close the investigation after Mulcaire and former News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman were jailed in 2007 for phone hacking was influenced by Scotland Yard's desire to maintain good relations with News International.MPs want to know if the decision to close the investigation after Mulcaire and former News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman were jailed in 2007 for phone hacking was influenced by Scotland Yard's desire to maintain good relations with News International.
Assistant Commissioner Yates refused to reopen the inquiry in 2009. Asst Commissioner Yates refused to reopen the inquiry in 2009.
He has said the scope of the first inquiry was restricted because of legal advice from prosecutors, lack of co-operation from those at the newspaper and the need to target resources towards counter-terrorism.He has said the scope of the first inquiry was restricted because of legal advice from prosecutors, lack of co-operation from those at the newspaper and the need to target resources towards counter-terrorism.
Victims of crime who had their voicemail messages hacked into include murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler. Former deputy prime minister John Prescott, who believes his phone was hacked, said Asst Commissioner Yates should be on "gardening leave" while parliament looks into his actions.
And Prime Minister David Cameron's former press secretary George Eustice, now a Conservative MP, has said he does not have confidence in Asst Commissioner Yates.
But Keith Vaz, chairman of the home affairs committee, said Mr Yates should be given the opportunity to put his case forward.
He said most of the MPs' questions would be related to what is already in the public domain.
'Blagging' report'Blagging' report
Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron's former press secretary George Eustice has said he does not have confidence in Assistant Commissioner Yates.
Conservative MP Mr Eustice told BBC Two's Newsnight programme that the senior officer's position was "not good".
On Monday, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown was said to be "shocked" after it was alleged the Sunday Times targeted his personal information when he was chancellor.On Monday, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown was said to be "shocked" after it was alleged the Sunday Times targeted his personal information when he was chancellor.
Documents and a phone recording suggest "blagging" was used to obtain private financial and property details.Documents and a phone recording suggest "blagging" was used to obtain private financial and property details.
The blagging reports concern alleged attempts by someone said to be acting for the Sunday Times who posed as Mr Brown and obtained details of his Abbey National account in January 2000.The blagging reports concern alleged attempts by someone said to be acting for the Sunday Times who posed as Mr Brown and obtained details of his Abbey National account in January 2000.
Mr Brown and his wife Sarah also fear medical records relating to their son Fraser, whom the Sun revealed in 2006 had cystic fibrosis, may have been obtained.Mr Brown and his wife Sarah also fear medical records relating to their son Fraser, whom the Sun revealed in 2006 had cystic fibrosis, may have been obtained.
News International, which publishes the Sunday Times and the Sun, said it would investigate the claims.News International, which publishes the Sunday Times and the Sun, said it would investigate the claims.
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said if the allegations were true, the implications for Rupert Murdoch's empire could be huge.Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said if the allegations were true, the implications for Rupert Murdoch's empire could be huge.
"If this is going right across News Corporation, there is a real problem for Mr Murdoch for he has to pass the fit and proper test as a person to own a broadcasting organisation like Sky."If this is going right across News Corporation, there is a real problem for Mr Murdoch for he has to pass the fit and proper test as a person to own a broadcasting organisation like Sky.
"And if he doesn't pass that, it's not a question of just stopping the BSkyB deal, it will be a question of him getting rid of Sky altogether.""And if he doesn't pass that, it's not a question of just stopping the BSkyB deal, it will be a question of him getting rid of Sky altogether."
Judicial inquiryJudicial inquiry
Blagging, or "knowingly or recklessly obtaining or disclosing personal data or information without the consent of the data controller" has been illegal since 1994.Blagging, or "knowingly or recklessly obtaining or disclosing personal data or information without the consent of the data controller" has been illegal since 1994.
Addressing MPs in the the Commons, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt described blagging as an "awful" practice.Addressing MPs in the the Commons, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt described blagging as an "awful" practice.
He said the judge-led inquiry into phone-hacking would look at all illegal methods newspapers may have used in the past to obtain information.He said the judge-led inquiry into phone-hacking would look at all illegal methods newspapers may have used in the past to obtain information.
Evidence has been found suggesting a News of the World reporter tried to buy a phone book containing numbers of the Royal Family. In other developments on Monday:
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall may have also been targets of phone-hacking conducted at the News of the World, according to the Guardian.
  • Evidence has been found suggesting a News of the World reporter tried to buy a phone book containing numbers of the Royal Family
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  • The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall may have also been targets of phone-hacking conducted at the News of the World, according to the Guardian
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  • Scotland Yard says it believes stories have been leaked to the media as part of a "deliberate campaign to undermine" its inquiry into claims that bribes have been paid to some officers
  • Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said he is referring News Corp's bid to take over BSkyB to the Competition Commission. It comes after News Corporation withdrew its proposed undertaking to sell Sky News as part of its bid.
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