06-07-2011, 06:29 PM
News International originally claimed the phone hacking was the work of a "rogue reporter".
John Yates, a very senior Metropolitan Police officer, told Parliament there were only ten or twelve victims of News of the World phone hacking.
In March 2003, the following exchange took place before a Parliamentary committe:
The Met Police investigation, which involved John Yates, seized Private Investigator Glenn Mulcaire's notebooks in 2006. These notebooks allegedly contained detailed notes of:
Targeted individual
Phone number
PIN
Commissioning journalist
If this is true, the claim by the police that there were only ten or twelve victims of NOTW phone hacking, and no evidence of other offences, is revealed as complete and utter rubbish.
And then we have the the Chief of the Metropolitan Police admitting that the evidence strongly suggests that Met police officers were paid by News Int journalists:
John Yates, a very senior Metropolitan Police officer, told Parliament there were only ten or twelve victims of News of the World phone hacking.
In March 2003, the following exchange took place before a Parliamentary committe:
Quote:Ms Wade made her admission in response to a question from Chris Bryant, the Labour MP for Rhondda. "We have paid the police for information in the past," she said. The MP asked if it would happen in the future; Andy Coulson, editor of the News of the World, interjected and said: "We have always operated within the code and within the law."
Mr Bryant said he believed it was illegal for police to be paid for information. Mr Coulson replied: "As I said, we have always operated within the code and within the law."
After the hearing, Alison Clark, the director of corporate affairs at News International, called reporters to clarify Ms Wade's evidence. She said: "It is not company practice to pay police for information."
The Met Police investigation, which involved John Yates, seized Private Investigator Glenn Mulcaire's notebooks in 2006. These notebooks allegedly contained detailed notes of:
Targeted individual
Phone number
PIN
Commissioning journalist
If this is true, the claim by the police that there were only ten or twelve victims of NOTW phone hacking, and no evidence of other offences, is revealed as complete and utter rubbish.
And then we have the the Chief of the Metropolitan Police admitting that the evidence strongly suggests that Met police officers were paid by News Int journalists:
Quote:Met chief: phone-hacking documents point to 'inappropriate payments'
Sir Paul Stephenson confirms News International documents appear to include information on payments to police officers
Haroon Siddique guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 6 July 2011 13.40 BST
The Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, has said that documents provided by News International as part of the investigation into phone hacking appear to include information on "inappropriate payments" to police officers.
His comments came after it was reported on Tuesday night that News International had given his force details of payments made by the News of the World to senior police officers between 2003 and 2007, the period when Andy Coulson was the paper's editor.
Stephenson said on Wednesday he was taking the "unusual step" of issuing a statement because of widespread media coverage and public interest surrounding Operation Weeting, the investigation into phone hacking.
He said: "I can confirm that on 20 June 2011 the MPS [Metropolitan police service] was handed a number of documents by News International, through their barrister, Lord Macdonald QC. Our initial assessment shows that these documents include information relating to alleged inappropriate payments to a small number of MPS officers."
He said the matter had been discussed with the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which concluded that it should continue to be investigated by Operation Elveden, led by the Met deputy assistant commissioner Sue Akers, in partnership with the force's Directorate of Professional Standards.
Stephenson added: "At this time we have not seen any evidence requiring a referral to the Metropolitan Police Authority in respect of any senior officer. Whilst I am deeply concerned by recent developments surrounding phone hacking they are a product of the meticulous and thorough work of Operation Weeting, which will continue. Operation Elveden will be equally thorough and robust. Anyone identified of wrongdoing can expect the full weight of disciplinary measures and if appropriate action through the criminal courts."
There have been suggestions from some quarters that the story relating to Coulson allegedly paying police officers, featured prominently in the Times, also part of the News International stable, on Tuesday, was a distraction exercise.
Labour MP Tom Watson told BBC News: "This is desperation from News International. They are trying to protect Rebekah Brooks [chief executive of News International], who rightly faces the ire of the nation today."
"It means this War was never political at all, the politics was all theatre, all just to keep the people distracted...."
"Proverbs for Paranoids 4: You hide, They seek."
"They are in Love. Fuck the War."
Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon
"Ccollanan Pachacamac ricuy auccacunac yahuarniy hichascancuta."
The last words of the last Inka, Tupac Amaru, led to the gallows by men of god & dogs of war
"Proverbs for Paranoids 4: You hide, They seek."
"They are in Love. Fuck the War."
Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon
"Ccollanan Pachacamac ricuy auccacunac yahuarniy hichascancuta."
The last words of the last Inka, Tupac Amaru, led to the gallows by men of god & dogs of war