This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23368569
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Rupert Murdoch rows back police inquiry criticism | Rupert Murdoch rows back police inquiry criticism |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Rupert Murdoch has rowed back from claims that the police inquiry into alleged corrupt payments by journalists to officials is "totally incompetent". | Rupert Murdoch has rowed back from claims that the police inquiry into alleged corrupt payments by journalists to officials is "totally incompetent". |
| But in letters to two MPs, the News Corp chief said that the police response was "disproportionate". | But in letters to two MPs, the News Corp chief said that the police response was "disproportionate". |
| Mr Murdoch said that while he did not "doubt the police's professionalism", the inquiry had taken too long. | Mr Murdoch said that while he did not "doubt the police's professionalism", the inquiry had taken too long. |
| He admitted to making "overly-emotional comments" in a secretly-recorded meeting broadcast on Channel 4 News. | He admitted to making "overly-emotional comments" in a secretly-recorded meeting broadcast on Channel 4 News. |
| The letters came after MPs demanded that he explain comments made at a Sun staff meeting. | The letters came after MPs demanded that he explain comments made at a Sun staff meeting. |
| A recording of the meeting held in March was obtained by the Exaro website and aired on Channel 4 News earlier this month. | A recording of the meeting held in March was obtained by the Exaro website and aired on Channel 4 News earlier this month. |
| In it, Mr Murdoch complained about "totally incompetent" police officers and said Operation Elveden was "the biggest inquiry ever, over next to nothing". | In it, Mr Murdoch complained about "totally incompetent" police officers and said Operation Elveden was "the biggest inquiry ever, over next to nothing". |
| 'Sense of proportion' | |
| In a letter sent on Wednesday night to John Whittingdale, chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, Mr Murdoch said: "Even without a reliable transcript before me, I am sure I made overly emotional comments about the MPs at the March meeting." | In a letter sent on Wednesday night to John Whittingdale, chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, Mr Murdoch said: "Even without a reliable transcript before me, I am sure I made overly emotional comments about the MPs at the March meeting." |
| Mr Murdoch gave evidence to the committee in 2011 when he was questioned about phone-hacking allegations. | Mr Murdoch gave evidence to the committee in 2011 when he was questioned about phone-hacking allegations. |
| He added: "I do not doubt the police's professionalism but, from my layman's perspective, the police approach to these matters since I met with you has in some respects appeared to be disproportionate." | |
| And in a letter to chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee Keith Vaz, Mr Murdoch wrote: "I accept that I used the wrong adjectives to voice my frustration over the course of the police investigation. | And in a letter to chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee Keith Vaz, Mr Murdoch wrote: "I accept that I used the wrong adjectives to voice my frustration over the course of the police investigation. |
| "But I had been hearing for months about pre-dawn raids undertaken by as many as 14 police officers, and that some employees and their families were left in limbo for as much as a year and a half between arrest and charging decisions." | "But I had been hearing for months about pre-dawn raids undertaken by as many as 14 police officers, and that some employees and their families were left in limbo for as much as a year and a half between arrest and charging decisions." |
| He added: "I am in no position to judge the competence of the investigation and should never have done so. | He added: "I am in no position to judge the competence of the investigation and should never have done so. |
| "But I do question whether, over the last two years, the police have approached these matters with an appropriate sense of proportion, and with regard for the human cost of delay. | "But I do question whether, over the last two years, the police have approached these matters with an appropriate sense of proportion, and with regard for the human cost of delay. |
| "My own lay view is that it has been more than thorough, indeed it has in some respects appeared to be excessive." | "My own lay view is that it has been more than thorough, indeed it has in some respects appeared to be excessive." |
| The letters claim that News Corp has handed over more than 500,000 documents to the Metropolitan Police, devoting more than 185,000 man hours to the work. | The letters claim that News Corp has handed over more than 500,000 documents to the Metropolitan Police, devoting more than 185,000 man hours to the work. |
| Allegations of phone hacking at the now-defunct News of the World thrust the newspaper's owners, News Corp, and its journalists directly into the spotlight. | Allegations of phone hacking at the now-defunct News of the World thrust the newspaper's owners, News Corp, and its journalists directly into the spotlight. |
| A separate Scotland Yard investigation, named Operation Elveden, is looking into claims of inappropriate payments made to police and other public officials by journalists. | A separate Scotland Yard investigation, named Operation Elveden, is looking into claims of inappropriate payments made to police and other public officials by journalists. |
| News Corp defended Mr Murdoch when the secret recording emerged, saying he had shown "understandable empathy" with staff. | News Corp defended Mr Murdoch when the secret recording emerged, saying he had shown "understandable empathy" with staff. |