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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| CPS ends phone-hacking investigations | CPS ends phone-hacking investigations |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| No more prosecutions will be brought over alleged phone hacking at newspapers owned by the Mirror Group or News Group Newspapers, prosecutors say. | No more prosecutions will be brought over alleged phone hacking at newspapers owned by the Mirror Group or News Group Newspapers, prosecutors say. |
| The CPS says there is "insufficient evidence" to bring corporate liability charges against News Group or phone-hacking charges against 10 individuals at Mirror Group. | The CPS says there is "insufficient evidence" to bring corporate liability charges against News Group or phone-hacking charges against 10 individuals at Mirror Group. |
| Piers Morgan, former editor of the Daily Mirror, who was questioned during the investigation over alleged involvement in phone hacking, welcomed the decision. | Piers Morgan, former editor of the Daily Mirror, who was questioned during the investigation over alleged involvement in phone hacking, welcomed the decision. |
| Investigations into alleged phone hacking began in 2011 and eventually led to the closure of the 168-year-old News of the World tabloid. | Investigations into alleged phone hacking began in 2011 and eventually led to the closure of the 168-year-old News of the World tabloid. |
| In a statement, the CPS said that two investigations - Operation Weeting and Operation Golding - had resulted in 12 prosecutions and nine convictions for offences related to phone hacking. | In a statement, the CPS said that two investigations - Operation Weeting and Operation Golding - had resulted in 12 prosecutions and nine convictions for offences related to phone hacking. |
| One of those convicted of offences in connection with phone hacking is a former editor of the News of the World, Andy Coulson. | One of those convicted of offences in connection with phone hacking is a former editor of the News of the World, Andy Coulson. |
| But the CPS said corporate criminal liability could not be attributed to the company through Coulson's actions because he could not be considered to have been the "controlling mind and will" of News Group. | But the CPS said corporate criminal liability could not be attributed to the company through Coulson's actions because he could not be considered to have been the "controlling mind and will" of News Group. |
| It also said that the Mirror Group call data it had looked at could not be proven to be "definite instances of phone hacking", nor shown to have been carried out by particular individuals. | It also said that the Mirror Group call data it had looked at could not be proven to be "definite instances of phone hacking", nor shown to have been carried out by particular individuals. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent | By Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent |
| Under British law, any corporation can be convicted for any offence, providing a jury can be convinced that the acts were carried out by a senior figure acting as the "directing mind and will" of the company. | Under British law, any corporation can be convicted for any offence, providing a jury can be convinced that the acts were carried out by a senior figure acting as the "directing mind and will" of the company. |
| That chain of command from directors to the shop floor can be easy to prove in simple or small businesses. | That chain of command from directors to the shop floor can be easy to prove in simple or small businesses. |
| But Rupert Murdoch's NewsUK is a wholly different corporate command structure because newspaper editors are supposed to be autonomous. They decide for themselves from day-to-day how they will get their news. | But Rupert Murdoch's NewsUK is a wholly different corporate command structure because newspaper editors are supposed to be autonomous. They decide for themselves from day-to-day how they will get their news. |
| Andy Coulson, former News of the World editor, was convicted of hacking - but his predecessor, once lover and later boss, Rebekah Brooks, was cleared. | Andy Coulson, former News of the World editor, was convicted of hacking - but his predecessor, once lover and later boss, Rebekah Brooks, was cleared. |
| So, in legal terms, there was insufficient evidence for the CPS to put before a jury that the boardroom knew what Coulson and others were doing. | So, in legal terms, there was insufficient evidence for the CPS to put before a jury that the boardroom knew what Coulson and others were doing. |
| Eight celebrities - including Sadie Frost, Paul Gascoigne, and Shane Richie - won damages totalling more than £1.25m from Mirror Group earlier this year. Mirror Group has appealed the decision. | Eight celebrities - including Sadie Frost, Paul Gascoigne, and Shane Richie - won damages totalling more than £1.25m from Mirror Group earlier this year. Mirror Group has appealed the decision. |
| However, dozens more claims are expected to be heard next year. | However, dozens more claims are expected to be heard next year. |
| Solicitors representing phone-hacking victims said civil cases against both Mirror Group and News Group were "absolutely not" affected by the CPS decision. | Solicitors representing phone-hacking victims said civil cases against both Mirror Group and News Group were "absolutely not" affected by the CPS decision. |
| Welcome news | |
| Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said: "There has been considerable public concern about phone hacking and invasion of privacy." | |
| She added: "These decisions bring the CPS's involvement in current investigations into phone hacking to a close." | |
| Reacting to the announcement, Mr Morgan tweeted: "As I've said since the investigation began four years ago, I've never hacked a phone and nor have I ever told anybody to hack a phone. | |
| "Thanks to all my family & friends, and kind people on here, for all their support. It was greatly appreciated. | |
| "I'm now going to get spectacularly drunk. Happy Christmas." | |
| News UK issued a statement which said "the right decision has been taken" by the CPS. | |
| It added: "We now relish the chance to focus fully on what this company does best - world class professional journalism." | |
| Operation Weeting | Operation Weeting |
| News Group Newspapers was investigated for corporate liability as part of Operation Weeting, and prosecutors considered potential charges for phone hacking and perverting the course of justice. | News Group Newspapers was investigated for corporate liability as part of Operation Weeting, and prosecutors considered potential charges for phone hacking and perverting the course of justice. |
| The CPS said that in a prosecution for corporate liability, it would have to prove the involvement of someone with the "controlling mind or will" of the company. | The CPS said that in a prosecution for corporate liability, it would have to prove the involvement of someone with the "controlling mind or will" of the company. |
| Although Andy Coulson was editor of the News of the World and had a certain amount of control over the newspaper, the CPS said he was not a controlling mind of the wider company, so the group could not be prosecuted as a result of his actions. | Although Andy Coulson was editor of the News of the World and had a certain amount of control over the newspaper, the CPS said he was not a controlling mind of the wider company, so the group could not be prosecuted as a result of his actions. |
| It also said there was no evidence that any board member of the group had knowledge of phone hacking, or that the reason the company paid money to an individual was for phone hacking. | It also said there was no evidence that any board member of the group had knowledge of phone hacking, or that the reason the company paid money to an individual was for phone hacking. |
| Nor could the CPS prove anyone with "controlling mind or will" intended to pervert the course of justice between the first arrests in 2006 and the company's admission of liability in civil proceedings in 2011. | Nor could the CPS prove anyone with "controlling mind or will" intended to pervert the course of justice between the first arrests in 2006 and the company's admission of liability in civil proceedings in 2011. |
| It said the company's decision to settle the civil cases brought against them could not be seen as actions which could pervert the course of justice either, and that there was no evidence to suggest emails were deleted to pervert the course of justice. | It said the company's decision to settle the civil cases brought against them could not be seen as actions which could pervert the course of justice either, and that there was no evidence to suggest emails were deleted to pervert the course of justice. |
| Operation Golding | Operation Golding |
| As part of Operation Golding, the CPS looked into allegations of phone hacking against 10 individuals at Mirror Group Newspapers. | As part of Operation Golding, the CPS looked into allegations of phone hacking against 10 individuals at Mirror Group Newspapers. |
| The CPS said it had looked at call data from the group which showed a "regular pattern" of two calls being placed to the same number and a large number of calls to voicemail numbers, but it could not prove these were "definite instances of phone hacking". | The CPS said it had looked at call data from the group which showed a "regular pattern" of two calls being placed to the same number and a large number of calls to voicemail numbers, but it could not prove these were "definite instances of phone hacking". |
| Additionally, it could not prove the calls were made by particular individuals as Mirror Group journalists often used each other's phones. | Additionally, it could not prove the calls were made by particular individuals as Mirror Group journalists often used each other's phones. |