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Senior Met officer John Yates' phone 'hacked' Hacking police round on News International
(40 minutes later)
Assistant Commissioner John Yates, who reviewed a Met police investigation into phone hacking, has said he is 99% certain his own mobile was hacked. Senior Met police officers have accused News International of trying to obstruct the original investigation into phone hacking.
Mr Yates told the home affairs committee he believed it had happened between 2005 and 2006. At a hearing, MPs asked former Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke why the full extent of hacking at the News of the World was not uncovered.
MPs are asking why a police inquiry was not reopened when new claims of hacking at the News of the World emerged. He told them: "We pursued it as far as we could through the correspondence with the News of the World lawyers."
Mr Yates expressed regret, but said there was nothing at the time to suggest there was new evidence. But he said it was a global company with access to the best legal advice.
He added that his remit during the initial investigation was strictly to look into who had been hacking into the phones of members of the royal household.
He said he had to weigh up a breach of privacy investigation with counter terrorism investigations, and an exhaustive analysis of the evidence at hand may or may not have made any difference at all.
A police investigation began in 2005, triggered by stories about Prince William's health in the NoW.A police investigation began in 2005, triggered by stories about Prince William's health in the NoW.
Two years later, a reporter and private investigator working for the paper were jailed for phone hacking. The pair were considered to have been acting alone, and the investigation ended. Two years later, a reporter and private investigator working for the paper were jailed for phone hacking. It was reported that the pair were considered to have been acting alone, and the investigation ended.
In 2009, Mr Yates oversaw a review of the investigation after allegations appeared in the Guardian that NoW reporters had paid private investigators to hack into thousands of phones, many owned by politicians and celebrities. In 2009, Assistant Commissioner John Yates oversaw a review of the investigation after allegations appeared in the Guardian that NoW reporters had paid private investigators to hack into thousands of phones, many owned by politicians and celebrities.
At the hearing, he admitted it was a "poor" decision not to reopen the inquiry and he regretted not doing enough to protect victims.At the hearing, he admitted it was a "poor" decision not to reopen the inquiry and he regretted not doing enough to protect victims.
But he said: "It is a matter of great concern that, for whatever reason, the News of the World appears to have failed to co-operate in the way that we now know they should have with relevant police inquiries up until January this year.But he said: "It is a matter of great concern that, for whatever reason, the News of the World appears to have failed to co-operate in the way that we now know they should have with relevant police inquiries up until January this year.
"They have only recently supplied information and evidence that would have had a significant impact on the decisions that I took in 2009 had it been provided to us then.""They have only recently supplied information and evidence that would have had a significant impact on the decisions that I took in 2009 had it been provided to us then."
At the start of his evidence, he read from a statement, saying: "I have never lied, all the information provided to this committee and others have been given in good faith."At the start of his evidence, he read from a statement, saying: "I have never lied, all the information provided to this committee and others have been given in good faith."
He said he would not resign over the decision, and told MPs he had not been under pressure from the NoW over issues in his private life.He said he would not resign over the decision, and told MPs he had not been under pressure from the NoW over issues in his private life.
Mr Yates also said he was 99% certain his own mobile was hacked between 2005 and 2006.
Mr Yates is one of four senior Met officers being questioned by MPs.Mr Yates is one of four senior Met officers being questioned by MPs.
Among them is Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers, who is leading a new investigation called Operation Weeting.Among them is Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers, who is leading a new investigation called Operation Weeting.
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.
The committee hearing opened with questions to former Met Police Commissioner Lord Ian Blair about claims police officers had been paid for information by the News of the World.The committee hearing opened with questions to former Met Police Commissioner Lord Ian Blair about claims police officers had been paid for information by the News of the World.
He said he strongly suspected corruption in the force, but knew of no payments made to police officers.He said he strongly suspected corruption in the force, but knew of no payments made to police officers.
He was also asked about the decision not to reopen an inquiry in 2009. He said: "If material was available at the time that showed 'industrial level hacking' it would have been appropriate to have gone further.He was also asked about the decision not to reopen an inquiry in 2009. He said: "If material was available at the time that showed 'industrial level hacking' it would have been appropriate to have gone further.
"I didn't know and I wouldn't have expected it to have been known further up the organisation.""I didn't know and I wouldn't have expected it to have been known further up the organisation."
'In tears''In tears'
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.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 said it noted the allegations and would investigate.News International said it noted the allegations and would investigate.
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.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.
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.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. News International, though, says the story was obtained through a legitimate source.
Mr Brown also said he was "shocked" about allegations that the Sunday Times had used "blagging" to obtain his private financial and property details.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?"
Responding to his predecessor's interview, Prime Minister David Cameron said his heart went out to Gordon and Sarah Brown.Responding to his predecessor's interview, Prime Minister David Cameron said his heart went out to Gordon and Sarah Brown.
"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.""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: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'
  • News International's chief executive Rebekah Brooks, chairman James Murdoch and head of the parent company, News Corporation, Rupert Murdoch, have been asked to appear before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in the Commons next Tuesday. So far there has been no response.
  • Home Secretary Theresa May said she had confidence in Mr Yates, who is facing calls for his resignation
    •
  • 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
At the committee hearing, 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.
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.
But Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Committee, said Mr Yates should be given the opportunity to put his case forward.
And Home Secretary Theresa May said she had confidence in Mr Yates.
'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.
"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."
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.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.
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