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| Phone Hacking: Investigation under way in Scotland | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Strathclyde Police are to investigate phone hacking and breaches of data protection in Scotland, the Crown Office has confirmed. | Strathclyde Police are to investigate phone hacking and breaches of data protection in Scotland, the Crown Office has confirmed. |
| The probe will centre on allegations that witnesses gave perjured evidence in the trial of ex-MSP Tommy Sheridan. | The probe will centre on allegations that witnesses gave perjured evidence in the trial of ex-MSP Tommy Sheridan. |
| In December he was found guilty of lying during his successful defamation case against the News of the World (NoW) newspaper in 2006. | In December he was found guilty of lying during his successful defamation case against the News of the World (NoW) newspaper in 2006. |
| The NoW was closed at the beginning of July over the hacking scandal. | The NoW was closed at the beginning of July over the hacking scandal. |
| Sheridan, former Scottish Socialist Party leader, was jailed for three years for lying under oath | |
| He had won £200,000 in damages over its claims he was an adulterer who visited swingers clubs. | |
| Asst Ch Con George Hamilton said: "Following our discussions with the Crown, we have now been instructed to carry out a full investigation into allegations that witnesses gave perjured evidence in the trial of Tommy Sheridan and into alleged breaches of data protection and phone hacking. | Asst Ch Con George Hamilton said: "Following our discussions with the Crown, we have now been instructed to carry out a full investigation into allegations that witnesses gave perjured evidence in the trial of Tommy Sheridan and into alleged breaches of data protection and phone hacking. |
| "We will also be looking to see if we can uncover any evidence of corruption in the police service or any other organisation related to these inquiries. | "We will also be looking to see if we can uncover any evidence of corruption in the police service or any other organisation related to these inquiries. |
| "However, I must stress that no specific allegations regarding corruption have been presented to us at this time." | "However, I must stress that no specific allegations regarding corruption have been presented to us at this time." |
| He said his detectives would be working with the Metropolitan Police and other Scottish forces. | He said his detectives would be working with the Metropolitan Police and other Scottish forces. |
| "By its very nature, this investigation will require us to allocate varying levels of resources to it," he said. | "By its very nature, this investigation will require us to allocate varying levels of resources to it," he said. |
| "There is a huge amount of material to consider and, potentially, a large number of people to contact. | "There is a huge amount of material to consider and, potentially, a large number of people to contact. |
| "This will mean that the investigation is likely to be a lengthy one. However, you have my absolute assurance that it will be a thorough one." | "This will mean that the investigation is likely to be a lengthy one. However, you have my absolute assurance that it will be a thorough one." |
| Strathclyde Police began looking into the issue after a dossier of information alleging hundreds of people had been targeted by News International was handed to them by Sheridan's lawyer Aamer Anwar. | |
| Blagging or deception | |
| The BBC has obtained a copy of that dossier, which details journalists' requests to private detective Steve Whittamore. | The BBC has obtained a copy of that dossier, which details journalists' requests to private detective Steve Whittamore. |
| The so-called "Blue Book" features the names of many high-profile figures who later allegedly became victims of phone hacking. | |
| It includes requests for a variety of legitimate, publicly-sourced information, but there are also requests for sensitive information like ex-directory numbers, criminal records, vehicle registration details and Friends and Family numbers, which could be illegal if they have been accessed by blagging or deception. | |
| According to the dossier, the Scottish News of the World employed Whittamore dozens of times. | |
| It contains a few Scots in the public eye, including former rugby star Kenny Logan and his wife, Gabby, a BBC Sport presenter. Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson and actress Natalie Robb are also on the list. |