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| Stars 'may sue' over phone claims | Stars 'may sue' over phone claims |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Public figures who believe they were victims of alleged phone hacking by investigators hired by the News of the World are considering suing the paper. | Public figures who believe they were victims of alleged phone hacking by investigators hired by the News of the World are considering suing the paper. |
| One lawyer told the BBC he has had two enquiries and that more celebrities and politicians were seeking advice. | One lawyer told the BBC he has had two enquiries and that more celebrities and politicians were seeking advice. |
| It follows claims in the Guardian that the tabloid paid £1m to settle legal cases which threatened to expose the use of illegal methods to get stories. | It follows claims in the Guardian that the tabloid paid £1m to settle legal cases which threatened to expose the use of illegal methods to get stories. |
| Scotland Yard has said it will not investigate the fresh allegations. | Scotland Yard has said it will not investigate the fresh allegations. |
| In its latest revelations, the Guardian names Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and former England captain Alan Shearer among those whose messages were allegedly intercepted. | In its latest revelations, the Guardian names Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and former England captain Alan Shearer among those whose messages were allegedly intercepted. |
| Inquiries launched | |
| Three inquiries have been launched by the director of public prosecutions, the Press Complaints Commission and a Commons select committee. | Three inquiries have been launched by the director of public prosecutions, the Press Complaints Commission and a Commons select committee. |
| The Metropolitan Police have already conducted an investigation into phone hacking by journalists at the News of the World, centring on messages left for aides of Prince Charles. | The Metropolitan Police have already conducted an investigation into phone hacking by journalists at the News of the World, centring on messages left for aides of Prince Charles. |
| Vanessa Feltz: "I'm shocked, I'm bewildered at what seems to pass for journalism" | |
| It resulted in royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glen Mulcaire being jailed for four and six months respectively in January 2007. | It resulted in royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glen Mulcaire being jailed for four and six months respectively in January 2007. |
| The scandal led to the resignation of then editor Andy Coulson, who is now the Conservative Party's public relations chief. | The scandal led to the resignation of then editor Andy Coulson, who is now the Conservative Party's public relations chief. |
| The BBC has learned that Rebekah Wade, the editor of the Sun, a sister paper of the News of the World, was among 75 people identified by police as having had phone messages monitored by Mulcaire. | The BBC has learned that Rebekah Wade, the editor of the Sun, a sister paper of the News of the World, was among 75 people identified by police as having had phone messages monitored by Mulcaire. |
| Ms Wade - soon to become chief executive of the papers' parent company News International - was informed at the time but declined to press charges, according to BBC business editor Robert Peston. | Ms Wade - soon to become chief executive of the papers' parent company News International - was informed at the time but declined to press charges, according to BBC business editor Robert Peston. |
| On Thursday, Met Assistant Commissioner John Yates said Scotland Yard would not reopen its files on the case because no new evidence had come to light since its original inquiry. | On Thursday, Met Assistant Commissioner John Yates said Scotland Yard would not reopen its files on the case because no new evidence had come to light since its original inquiry. |
| Robert PestonBBC business editor | |
| [The fact Rebekah Wade's messages were monitored] increases the embarrassment for Andy Coulson. They are supposed to be friends. | |
| He says he had no knowledge his journalists were behaving in this kind of way. To the rest of the world, the whole thing looks extraordinary. | |
| It shows how widespread this monitoring of individuals phone messages was. | |
| The information commissioner [has made] clear it was going on in all sorts of news organisations, not just News International. | |
| The question that will arise is how systemic within the industry this sort of behaviour is. Robert Peston's blog | |
| He said Goodman and Mulcaire had undertaken a "sophisticated and wide-ranging conspiracy to gather private and personal data". | He said Goodman and Mulcaire had undertaken a "sophisticated and wide-ranging conspiracy to gather private and personal data". |
| He added the inquiry had focused solely on phone hacking, and in the vast majority of cases, there was "insufficient evidence" that interception had happened. | He added the inquiry had focused solely on phone hacking, and in the vast majority of cases, there was "insufficient evidence" that interception had happened. |
| Mark Stephens, of law firm Finers Stephens Innocent, said Mr Yates' statement seemed "not to address the possibility that there had been a criminal attempt or criminal conspiracy". | Mark Stephens, of law firm Finers Stephens Innocent, said Mr Yates' statement seemed "not to address the possibility that there had been a criminal attempt or criminal conspiracy". |
| He said the director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, could force police to reopen the investigation or order the release of documents "sealed" by civil courts under case confidentially agreements. | He said the director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, could force police to reopen the investigation or order the release of documents "sealed" by civil courts under case confidentially agreements. |
| This could shed light on whether other high-profile figures had been phone hacking victims, he added. | This could shed light on whether other high-profile figures had been phone hacking victims, he added. |
| One former Met deputy assistant commissioner, Brian Paddick, suggested Mr Yates may not have spent enough time reviewing the evidence. | One former Met deputy assistant commissioner, Brian Paddick, suggested Mr Yates may not have spent enough time reviewing the evidence. |
| He also said the Royal Protection Officers who investigated the Goodman case may not have passed on evidence of hacking affecting figures outside the Royal Family to other sections of the force for a wider investigation. | He also said the Royal Protection Officers who investigated the Goodman case may not have passed on evidence of hacking affecting figures outside the Royal Family to other sections of the force for a wider investigation. |
| 'Complex material' | |
| Mr Starmer has said he wants to reassure himself and the public that "appropriate actions" were taken by the police three years ago. | Mr Starmer has said he wants to reassure himself and the public that "appropriate actions" were taken by the police three years ago. |
| "Given the nature of the offences, the amount of material is, of course, extensive and complex, but it has all been located and a small team is now rapidly working through it," he said. | "Given the nature of the offences, the amount of material is, of course, extensive and complex, but it has all been located and a small team is now rapidly working through it," he said. |
| The Commons culture, media and sport select committee has announced it will reopen an inquiry held after Goodman was jailed and may call Mr Coulson to give evidence. | The Commons culture, media and sport select committee has announced it will reopen an inquiry held after Goodman was jailed and may call Mr Coulson to give evidence. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| During the Goodman trial, it emerged Mulcaire had hacked into the phones of model Elle Macpherson, publicist Max Clifford, Simon Hughes MP and the Professional Footballers' Association's chief executive Gordon Taylor. | During the Goodman trial, it emerged Mulcaire had hacked into the phones of model Elle Macpherson, publicist Max Clifford, Simon Hughes MP and the Professional Footballers' Association's chief executive Gordon Taylor. |
| Mr Taylor later sued News Group, which owns the News of the World, receiving £700,000 on condition that the case details remained confidential. | Mr Taylor later sued News Group, which owns the News of the World, receiving £700,000 on condition that the case details remained confidential. |
| During this case, the Guardian claims, details emerged that "two or three thousand" figures had been targeted. | During this case, the Guardian claims, details emerged that "two or three thousand" figures had been targeted. |
| News International, the parent company of News Group, said it would be "inappropriate" to comment on the Guardian's allegations. | News International, the parent company of News Group, said it would be "inappropriate" to comment on the Guardian's allegations. |