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Police to probe phone hack claims Police to probe phone hack claims
(about 1 hour later)
The police are to examine claims of widespread mobile phone hacking by the News of the World, following calls for an inquiry into the affair. The police are to examine claims of a mobile phone hacking operation by the News of the World, which is alleged to have targeted thousands of people.
The Guardian says the paper's reporters paid private investigators to hack into "thousands" of phones, many owned by politicians and celebrities. The Guardian says News of the World reporters paid private investigators to hack into phones, many of them owned by politicians and celebrities.
It is alleged details were suppressed by the police and the High Court.It is alleged details were suppressed by the police and the High Court.
Met Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson has ordered a senior officer to "establish the facts" of the case. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson has ordered a senior officer to "establish the facts".
Sir Paul said Assistant Commissioner John Yates would "look into that detail and I would anticipate making a statement later today perhaps." Sir Paul said Assistant Commissioner John Yates would "look into that detail and I would anticipate making a statement later today perhaps".
The Guardian alleges former deputy prime minister John Prescott Prescott and "two or three thousand" other public figures were targeted by the hacking operation. Shortly afterwards, Home Office Minister David Hanson told MPs "serious allegations" had been made and that the Home Secretary Alan Johnson had spoken to the Met Commissioner.
Others included London Mayor Boris Johnson and former Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, it said. He added: "They deserve an examination. The Metropolitan Police this afternoon will be examining those allegations. I will report back to the House in due course."
However details about how widespread the operation was were suppressed by the police and the High Court, says the paper. The Guardian alleges former Deputy Prime minister John Prescott Prescott, London Mayor Boris Johnson, former Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and actress Gwyneth Paltrow were among "two or three thousand" public figures were targeted by the hacking operation.
But the paper says details about how widespread the operation was were suppressed by the police and the High Court.
ANALYSIS Nick Robinson, BBC political editorANALYSIS Nick Robinson, BBC political editor
It is now clear that phone hacking at the News of the World was much more widespread than previously thought; that it targeted senior ministers not just celebrities and that, if the Guardian is correct, at least one of the paper's executives knew about it.It is now clear that phone hacking at the News of the World was much more widespread than previously thought; that it targeted senior ministers not just celebrities and that, if the Guardian is correct, at least one of the paper's executives knew about it.
This is leading to calls - not just from Labour politicians - for Andy Coulson to answer questions about what he knew and to questions about whether he should be at David Cameron's side.This is leading to calls - not just from Labour politicians - for Andy Coulson to answer questions about what he knew and to questions about whether he should be at David Cameron's side.
That is why I am sure that David Cameron is anything but "relaxed", as was claimed last night.That is why I am sure that David Cameron is anything but "relaxed", as was claimed last night.
Coulson has already broken rule one for any spin doctor - "Never become the story". He's good enough at his job to know that this story will soon become one about David Cameron's judgement. Read Nick's blog in fullCoulson has already broken rule one for any spin doctor - "Never become the story". He's good enough at his job to know that this story will soon become one about David Cameron's judgement. Read Nick's blog in full
Details of the widespread hacking allegedly emerged out of a court case involving Professional Footballers' Association head, Gordon Taylor and the News of the World. Mr Taylor received £700,000 in damages and court costs last year, but on condition that details of the case were not made public. The details allegedly emerged during a court case involving Professional Footballers' Association head, Gordon Taylor, and the News of the World.
A spokesman for News Group's parent company, News International, said it would be "inappropriate" to comment on the allegations. Mr Taylor sued News Group, which owns the News of the World, on the basis that its senior executives must have known about an alleged hacking operation on his mobile phone - claims of which had emerged in a case involving the paper's royal editor.
But pressure was mounting on the company after Business Secretary Peter Mandelson called for a new police investigation. He received £700,000 in damages and court costs last year, but on condition that details of the case were not made public.
News International, the parent company for News Group said it would be "inappropriate" to comment on the Guardian's allegations.
But pressure is mounting on the company after Business Secretary Peter Mandelson called for a new police investigation.
Lord Mandelson also called on Andy Coulson, who was editor of the News of the World during the period the allegations cover, to give a "full and open explanation" of his role in the affair.Lord Mandelson also called on Andy Coulson, who was editor of the News of the World during the period the allegations cover, to give a "full and open explanation" of his role in the affair.
Former deputy prime minister John Prescott, whose phone calls were allegedly monitored, said "many many" questions needed to be answered about the claims. He is now the Conservative Party's director of communications.
Mr Prescott said while Mr Coulson needed to answer allegations, "many many" other questions also needed to be answered.
He said: "First of all, those of us that had our phones tapped and the police were aware of it - why were we not told? Why were they [the News of the World] not prosecuted?
"Why was a separate deal done in the court and then put away, and not made available to us? To the legal authorities [I would ask] why did you do this?
Andy Coulson has been backed by Tory leader David Cameron
He said News Group newspaper executives had previously convinced MPs that News of the World editor Clive Goodman, who was jailed for hacking into mobile phones, was a "one-off" example of a "rogue" reporter.
"That was clearly untrue if these allegations are to be believed," Mr Prescott said.
He said the committee and the Press Complaints Commission (PCC), which both investigated the Goodman case and found no evidence of a wider hacking operation, should reopen their inquiries.
In a statement the PCC justified itself, saying it had previously made clear that there were "outstanding questions" about the case it had investigated.
"Any suggestion that further transgressions have occurred since ...2007 will be investigated without delay," it added.