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MPs set to question police over phone-hacking inquiry MPs set to question police over phone-hacking inquiry
(about 1 hour later)
Senior Metropolitan Police officers will be quizzed by MPs in public later about inquiries into phone hacking at the News of the World (NoW). Senior Metropolitan Police officers will be questioned by MPs in public later about inquiries into phone hacking at the News of the World (NoW).
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 two former officers why the initial investigation in 2005 failed to uncover evidence of hacking of crime victims' phones.
Assistant Commissioner John Yates, who ruled out reopening the inquiry, will also face the Home Affairs Committee.Assistant Commissioner John Yates, who ruled out reopening the inquiry, will also face the Home Affairs Committee.
MPs will speak to the officer leading the current investigation as well.MPs will speak to the officer leading the current investigation as well.
The investigation, called Operation Weeting, is being led by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers.The investigation, called Operation Weeting, is being led by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers.
Under her lead, detectives are contacting nearly 4,000 people whose personal details were stored by private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.Under her lead, detectives are contacting nearly 4,000 people whose personal details were stored by private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has accused News International, owners of the NoW, the Sun and the Sunday Times, of using known criminals to find stories. News International refused to comment. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has accused News International, owners of the NoW, the Sun and the Sunday Times, of using known criminals to find stories.
In an exclusive BBC interview, he said he was "in tears" when he heard the Sun was to run a story in 2006 revealing that his son, Fraser, had cystic fibrosis. News International said it noted the allegations and would investigate.
Mr Brown and his wife, Sarah, had believed only medical staff treating their son had access to the records and now fear they may have been accessed illegally. News International though says it is satisfied with the methods used to get the story. In an exclusive BBC interview, Mr Brown said he was "in tears" when he heard the Sun was to run a story in 2006 revealing that his son, Fraser, had cystic fibrosis.
Mr Brown also said he was "shocked" about allegations that the Sunday Times had used the illegal practice of "blagging" to obtain his private financial and property details. The then chancellor and his wife, Sarah, had believed only medical staff treating their son had access to the records and now fear they may have been accessed illegally.
News International, though, says it is satisfied with the methods used to get the story.
Mr Brown also said he was "shocked" about allegations that the Sunday Times had used "blagging" to obtain his private financial and property details.
"I just can't understand this. If I, with all the protection and all the defences and all the security that the chancellor of the exchequer or the prime minister has is so vulnerable to unscrupulous tactics... what about the ordinary citizen?""I just can't understand this. If I, with all the protection and all the defences and all the security that the chancellor of the exchequer or the prime minister has is so vulnerable to unscrupulous tactics... what about the ordinary citizen?"
'Gardening leave' Responding to his predecessor's interview, Prime Minister David Cameron said his heart went out to Gordon and Sarah Brown.
At the committee hearing taking place later, MPs are expected to ask former Assistant Commissioners Andy Hayman and Peter Clarke, the officers who supervised the original police inquiry, why the 4,000 names found in seized documents were apparently overlooked. "To have your child's privacy invaded in that way is completely unacceptable and heartbreaking for the family concerned. I am absolutely determined we will not rest until we get to the bottom of these problems."
In other developments:
  • Labour leader Ed Miliband has a meeting with the family of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, whose phone was allegedly hacked, and tells them his "heart goes out" to them. They have called on politicians to "stand up to the press", their solicitor Mark Lewis said
  • The final edition of the News of the World on Sunday sold 3.8 million copies, 1.1 million more than the previous week
  • Evidence has been found suggesting a News of the World reporter tried to buy a phonebook containing numbers of the Royal Family
  • 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
'Gardening leave'
At the committee hearing later, MPs are expected to ask former Assistant Commissioners Andy Hayman and Peter Clarke, the officers who supervised the original police inquiry, why the 4,000 names found in seized documents were 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 ruled out reopening the inquiry in 2009.Assistant Commissioner Yates ruled out reopening 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 said the original inquiry had been the "subject of the most careful investigation by very experienced detectives" and "no additional evidence" had come to light.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott, who believes his phone was hacked, said Assistant Commissioner Yates should be on "gardening leave" while Parliament looks into his actions. That was despite allegations in the Guardian that News of the World reporters had paid private investigators to hack into thousands of phones, many owned by politicians and celebrities.
He added that 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.
Labour MPs Chris Bryant and Tom Watson have called for Mr Yates to resign, while former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott, who believes his phone was hacked, said he should be on "gardening leave" while Parliament looked 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 Assistant Commissioner Yates.And Prime Minister David Cameron's former press secretary George Eustice, now a Conservative MP, has said he does not have confidence in Assistant Commissioner Yates.
But Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Committee, said Mr Yates should be given the opportunity to put his case forward.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.He said most of the MPs' questions would be related to what is already in the public domain.
"This is the opportunity to basically get moving on this and to find out everything there is and we have to pursue this to the end," he added."This is the opportunity to basically get moving on this and to find out everything there is and we have to pursue this to the end," he added.
'Blagging' report'Blagging' report
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.
The blagging reports related to Mr Brown's concern over 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 related to Mr Brown's concern over 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.
News International has said it would investigate the claims.News International has said it would investigate the claims.
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said if the latest allegations were true, the implications for Rupert Murdoch's empire could be huge.Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said if the latest 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 inquiry The judge-led inquiry into phone hacking is expected to look at all illegal methods newspapers may have used in the past to obtain information.
Addressing MPs in the the Commons on Monday, 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.
In other developments on Monday:
  • Evidence has been found suggesting a News of the World reporter tried to buy a phonebook containing numbers of the Royal Family
  • 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
  • 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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