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Phone hacking: Met police told to disclose information from supergrass Phone hacking: Met police told to disclose information from supergrass
(2 months later)
Scotland Yard has been told by the high court to disclose information it has on phone hacking by the News of the World to potential new victims arising out of information provided by a supergrass.Scotland Yard has been told by the high court to disclose information it has on phone hacking by the News of the World to potential new victims arising out of information provided by a supergrass.
The high court on Friday overruled an application by the now closed tabloid's former publisher, News UK subsidiary News Group Newspapers, which argued that the police did not have the full powers to release the information they had.The high court on Friday overruled an application by the now closed tabloid's former publisher, News UK subsidiary News Group Newspapers, which argued that the police did not have the full powers to release the information they had.
Friday's court ruling opens the way for potentially hundreds of more victims who may have had their phones hacked under a new police investigation not linked to previously known phone-hacking allegations. The new investigation was launched on the back of fresh evidence obtained by Scotland Yard from a suspect turned supergrass.Friday's court ruling opens the way for potentially hundreds of more victims who may have had their phones hacked under a new police investigation not linked to previously known phone-hacking allegations. The new investigation was launched on the back of fresh evidence obtained by Scotland Yard from a suspect turned supergrass.
Lawyers dealing with the seven civil damages claims so far resulting from this second Metropolitan police investigation, known as Operation Pinetree, applied to the high court for police disclosure in March.Lawyers dealing with the seven civil damages claims so far resulting from this second Metropolitan police investigation, known as Operation Pinetree, applied to the high court for police disclosure in March.
NGN argued in its high court submissions that the "old regime of advance disclosure from the [Met] had been costly, with large sums being spent on lawyers and spent in the disclosure exercise".NGN argued in its high court submissions that the "old regime of advance disclosure from the [Met] had been costly, with large sums being spent on lawyers and spent in the disclosure exercise".
Dinah Rose QC, for NGN, said it would been better for victims to commence proceedings, receive compensation offers and then get disclosure if they needed it later on.Dinah Rose QC, for NGN, said it would been better for victims to commence proceedings, receive compensation offers and then get disclosure if they needed it later on.
In his judgment on Friday, Mr Justice Mann was critical of NGN's approach: "it might be better for NGN for victims to be in ignorance for a longer rather than a shorter time, but it can hardly be better for the claimants".In his judgment on Friday, Mr Justice Mann was critical of NGN's approach: "it might be better for NGN for victims to be in ignorance for a longer rather than a shorter time, but it can hardly be better for the claimants".
He noted that Rose had been critical of the extent of the disclosure and the need for potential claimants to see all the information that was sought, which in some cases might relate to other victims.He noted that Rose had been critical of the extent of the disclosure and the need for potential claimants to see all the information that was sought, which in some cases might relate to other victims.
"There are advantages to an applicant in putting the activities in relation to him/her in the context of others and in seeing how far into the organisation the hacking went," Mann responded."There are advantages to an applicant in putting the activities in relation to him/her in the context of others and in seeing how far into the organisation the hacking went," Mann responded.
He said the fact that a claimant might have received compensation for phone hacking uncovered by the Met's earlier Operation Weeting investigation should not be a reason for police to withhold information if the alleged victim was also hacked by individuals being investigated by Pinetree officers.He said the fact that a claimant might have received compensation for phone hacking uncovered by the Met's earlier Operation Weeting investigation should not be a reason for police to withhold information if the alleged victim was also hacked by individuals being investigated by Pinetree officers.
"It would be unfortunate to require a claimant to litigate partially blind," said Mann."It would be unfortunate to require a claimant to litigate partially blind," said Mann.
Mann has taken over the case management of the phone hacking civil damages claims from Mr Justice Vos, following his promotion to the court of appeal.Mann has taken over the case management of the phone hacking civil damages claims from Mr Justice Vos, following his promotion to the court of appeal.
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