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Scotland Yard will not further investigate phone tapping
Justin Davenport, Crime Correspondent10.07.09
The Metropolitan Police will not conduct a new investigation into claims thousands of public figures had their phones hacked by the News of the World, Scotland Yard said.
Assistant Commissioner John Yates said the police had seen no additional evidence since its last investigation.
Mr Yates also said detectives had found no evidence that former deputy prime minister John Prescott's phone was tapped.
But he said police would now inform any potential victims that their phone may have been hacked where there was any suspicion.
He said: "No additional evidence has come to light since this case has concluded. I therefore consider that no further investigation is required.
"However, I do recognise the very real concerns, expressed today by a number of people, who believe that their privacy may have been intruded upon.
"I therefore need to ensure that we have been diligent, reasonable and sensible, and taken all proper steps to ensure that where we have evidence that people have been the subject of any form of phone tapping, or that there is any suspicion that they might have been, that they have been informed."
The news came after the Assistant Commissioner had been called on to "establish the facts" about claims that the News of the World hacked into mobile phones.
Sir Paul Stephenson had said earlier: "I have asked him to establish the facts of this case and look into the detail.
"We have got a track record of doing exactly what we are supposed to do. If we need to investigate, we will investigate. We will do the right thing and do what we have to do to investigate crime wherever it exists."
Sir Paul had made his comments as the force faced questions over claims that police did not alert a number of politicians and celebrities whose phones were allegedly targeted by reporters.
The original investigation into the News of the World bugging scandal was carried out by anti-terrorist police because of the security implications around claims that Royal phones had been bugged.
There is much secrecy surrounding the Yard's Counter Terrorism Command known as SO15 and few details of the inquiry emerged. However, it was well known at the time that detectives were examining a large number of telephone numbers and whether they had been subject to interception.
There were reports that at least one Cabinet minister as well as a number of celebrities were the target of illegal phone tapping. Today former Cabinet member John Prescott said he would be contacting the police to ask if his phone had been tapped, why was he not informed and why was no action taken.
“I had no evidence of this, though frankly a lot of the stories in the paper were coming from information that was highly private,” he said. “It's quite staggering really.”
The latest revelations are linked to the jailing of News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman in 2007. He was sentenced to four months for plotting to intercept voicemail messages left for three royal aides.
The 49-year-old tapped into several hundred messages but was found out when Prince William became suspicious over an article about a knee injury.
Goodman was working with private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, who was jailed for six months after pleading guilty to the same charge, after hacking the phones of Elle MacPherson, PR agent Max Clifford, MP Simon Hughes and football agent Sky Andrew.
Andy Coulson later resigned as editor of the News of the World, saying he took responsibility for the scandal.
Mr Clifford said the claims raised “lots of serious questions”.
He told the BBC: “If these allegations prove to be true, then it's something that an awful lot of people are going to very unhappy about.” He also asked: “Why has this just come out? According to the Guardian, it's come from police sources.
“If the police had this information, why didn't they act on it? There are lots of questions that need to be answered, serious questions.”
Today the Crown Prosecution Service, which must decide that there is a realistic prospect of conviction before bringing charges, said sufficient evidence had been presented to authorise court action in the cases of both Goodman and Mulcaire.
A spokeswoman said investigations would now be conducted to see whether files on any other individuals had been passed to the CPS by the Met, but that, at this stage, no such cases had been identified.
Police sources say that officers contacted as many people as they could who were proved to be the subject of phone tapping. One of the main obstacles to further prosecutions was that people did not want to see cases pursued through the courts.
In a statement the Yard said: “The MPS carried out an investigation into the alleged unlawful interception of telephone calls. Officers liaised closely with the Crown Prosecution Service. Two people were charged and subsequently convicted and jailed. We are not prepared to comment further.”
Reader views (17)
I couldn't give two hoots if 'celebs' phones are hacked. They do nothing useful to mankind, just fill the coffers of newspapers and liberate the less intelligent of their money.
I see Coleen's son may have swine flu. Hold the front page - not. Who cares? I'm not normally a supporter of the police state we have here in the UK however I do admire their reluctance to get involved in this case. Let them fight it in court if they want, should be good for a laugh.
I think the Guardian is just sore that it didn't open up the coffers for the uncensored 'scoop of the decade' expenses data.
What about us mere mortals right to privacy; my e-mails, phone calls, web usage, cctv and the rest? Until they s*d off with all this I will just sit back and indulge in a bit of schadenfreude.
Pop corn please!
- Man In The Street, London, UK
Apparently (Political) Might makes Right! No matter what Country it is. We are just Sheeple along for the ride with little control of our destiny or enen our Privacy! 1% of the Population (Politicians) control 100% of what happens. Oh well............'Cest la Vie!
- Retiredscotsman, Illinois, USA
No matter how hard the increasingly desperate Labour media luvvies, and the few remaining Labour supporters, try this is a non story that the electorate don't care about.
Nice try Ali Campbell and the Dark Lord Mandelson, but it hasn't worked, even with your mates at the Guardian and the BBC trying their spin doctorish hardest to make a mountain out of a molehill.
- Matt, London, UK
This is clearly a Graudian-inspired left wing loony backed attack on the Conservative Party.
The Graudian have even been stupid enough as not to disguise this fact.
Digging up and old story and re-packaging it is a lame excuse for journalism - pthe type normally executed by the BBC or other loony-left Marxist Elitist media organisations.
Thank heavens for the pragamatic Metropolitan Police to put a stop to this tirade of elitist bullying.
- Tangomike, Kensington, London
"He said: No additional evidence has come to light since this case has concluded. I therefore consider that no further investigation is required."
Oops. Swarming attacks may not cease, that would be too much to ask - but it looks a little like the rug has been pulled out from under the 'left' conspiracy theorist's feet. It also looks a LOT like the accusations have been dredged up from the past to see how much mud can be made to stick regardless of 'no further evidence', and no prior guilt established other than in the fulminating glare of socialist pseudo-outrage.
- Rogan, Irving
I see that Yates of the Yard has announced that no further investigation is required. When will he be standing as a Conservative MP for a safe seat I wonder?
- Carl, London
So far no real news. It was years ago. Most probably the Guardian doing a favour for their political masters. However, if there were hundreds involved it made a mockery of the investigations.
Probably a Campbell / Mandelson issue timed to distract while Brown was in Italy. No doubt he knew too.
- Gordonbay, London and Cape Town
You have to ask why Cameron employed Andy Coulson?
- Mike M, Bedford England
#Desperate Dan
Got it in one! Now we know why the government was up in arms about the Damian Green affair, and the hacking into Damian McBride's emails. The Tories appear to have form. All their policies seem to be built on obtaining leaked information and, quite possibly, hacking into mobile phones and emails. If what is alleged about Andy Coulsen is only half true, they have a brilliant tutor, don't they?
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
"forgot that you're a died-in-the wool leftie who apparently believes EVERYTHING Gordon Brown & New Labour say."
Is that all you have to say about this latest disgrace for Cameron fans and supporters of the Tory Party. Telling the Guardian that you are relaxed about a renowned 'hacker' and 'phone tapper' working alongside you for the Conservatives is frankly shocking. And what Mabdelson could possibly have to do with this issue of Tory shame I have no idea at all. Deflecting attention from the worrying affair - yes Malcolm ? . Thought so.
- Keith Price, Luton, England
whats new more corruption involving the
police and goverment who,s next??
- Basil, bussiere poitevine 87320 france
"As Prescott (and Mandelson) is raising a storm over it..." I think that therefore we can assume that they are guilty of wasting police time - a bit like the last time the Labour Party wasted police time by orchestrating the raiding of Damien Green's office.
- Desperate Dan, London, UK
Keith Price from Luton
"it is best to conclude".... best for who? How can you "conclude" anything when you really don't know ANY of the facts other than what the Labour supporting Guardian is saying. You wouldn't be pre-judging this issue based on some kind of political bias would you Keith?? Oh, sorry, forgot that you're a died-in-the wool leftie who apparently believes EVERYTHING Gordon Brown & New Labour say. I can think of at least a dozen issues over which Gordon Brown should have resigned in the last 6 months alone. Perhaps you should get your own party in order before you start lecturing others Keith!!
- Malcolm, London
This is the Government that also allowed Poole Council to use
anti-terrorist legislation to spy on a mother to ensure that she had given the school her children attended the correct address."
No Poole Council isn't Labour controlled. You seem remarkably relaxed for someone who could be being "tracked" while you wriye in this paper, and "tapped" on your phone at this very moment, not by the Govt., but by a man who once carried it out for the Sun and the NOTW, and now does it for David Cameron and the Tory party
- Keith Price, Luton, England
As our MPs are supposed to believe in open Government, and want us all to be bio-metrically identified, I don't care if someone listens in their telephone calls.
Privacy is a two way street, if MPs want privacy, then we should be entitled to it too.
This is the Government that also allowed Poole Council to use
anti-terrorist legislation to spy on a mother to ensure that she had given the school her children attended the correct address.
- John Jones, Westminster
As Prescott is raising a storm over it. it is best to conclude that cameron and the Tory Party are to blame for trying to brush the outrageous affair under the carpet. Cameron should consider his position
- Keith Price, Luton, England
I suppose it would be very cynical of me to suggest that with the massive influence Murdock holds over both our media, and, politicians, that it was decided by all parties to make the problem 'go away' by burying the evidence. No, of course I must be wrong, otherwise it would suggest that our politicians are corrupt, and, that's not possible is it? ....is it?
- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London.
