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Phone hacking: CPS calls end to prosecutions Phone hacking: CPS calls end to prosecutions
(35 minutes later)
There is to be no further action taken against journalists over phone hacking, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.There is to be no further action taken against journalists over phone hacking, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.
It said there was "insufficient evidence" to bring corporate liability charges against News Group or charges against 10 individuals at Mirror Group.It said there was "insufficient evidence" to bring corporate liability charges against News Group or charges against 10 individuals at Mirror Group.
Piers Morgan, ex-Daily Mirror editor, who was questioned about phone-hacking allegations, welcomed the news.Piers Morgan, ex-Daily Mirror editor, who was questioned about phone-hacking allegations, welcomed the news.
News UK, parent company of News Group, said "the right decision has been taken" by the CPS.News UK, parent company of News Group, said "the right decision has been taken" by the CPS.
The police investigation into phone hacking began in 2011 and uncovered "a vast number" of victims.The police investigation into phone hacking began in 2011 and uncovered "a vast number" of victims.
It began the saga that led to the conviction of the former News of the World Editor Andy Coulson, the closure of the 168-year-old News of the World and moves to change the way newspapers are regulated.It began the saga that led to the conviction of the former News of the World Editor Andy Coulson, the closure of the 168-year-old News of the World and moves to change the way newspapers are regulated.
A total of 12 prosecutions for offences relating to phone hacking were brought and there had been nine convictions, the CPS said.A total of 12 prosecutions for offences relating to phone hacking were brought and there had been nine convictions, the CPS said.
Coulson, a former spokesman for No 10, was jailed for 18 months for conspiracy to hack phones in July 2014.Coulson, a former spokesman for No 10, was jailed for 18 months for conspiracy to hack phones in July 2014.
But in its statement the CPS explained why it was not taking further action, saying 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 in its statement the CPS explained why it was not taking further action, saying 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 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 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.
AnalysisAnalysis
By Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondentBy 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 News UK 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 people whose phones were hacked by Mirror Group journalists - including Sadie Frost, Paul Gascoigne, and Shane Richie - won damages totalling more than £1.25m earlier this year. Mirror Group has appealed the decision.
However, dozens more claims are expected to be heard next year. 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 newsWelcome news
Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said: "These decisions bring the CPS's involvement in current investigations into phone hacking to a close."Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said: "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.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."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.""I'm now going to get spectacularly drunk. Happy Christmas."
News UK said: "We now relish the chance to focus fully on what this company does best - world class professional journalism." News UK, formally News International, which publishes newspapers the Sun, the Times and the Sunday Times, said: "We now relish the chance to focus fully on what this company does best - world class professional journalism."
But Prof Brian Cathcart, the founder of the press standards campaign Hacked Off, said it was "not over".
"It is not acceptable that companies like this can walk away scot-free," he said.
"We are not safe from these companies unless people are made accountable."
What is phone hacking?
Phone hacking was a technique used to listen to people's mobile voicemail.
Reporters and a private investigator working for the News of the World used it to target people in the news - celebrities, politicians and crime victims - so they could find angles on stories that would get them ahead of the competition.
They would listen to private messages left on voicemail, make a recording of them, and use the information to help write stories.
Operation WeetingOperation 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 GoldingOperation 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.