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Leveson Inquiry: Press terror briefings 'required' Leveson Inquiry: Press terror briefings 'required'
(40 minutes later)
Media briefings were an "operational requirement" to balance debate over the terrorist threat facing the UK, a former Scotland Yard chief has said.Media briefings were an "operational requirement" to balance debate over the terrorist threat facing the UK, a former Scotland Yard chief has said.
Ex-deputy assistant commissioner Peter Clarke told the Leveson media ethics inquiry many journalists had been "sceptical" about the threat.Ex-deputy assistant commissioner Peter Clarke told the Leveson media ethics inquiry many journalists had been "sceptical" about the threat.
Informal lunch briefings were used to explain strategy, the former head of the SO13 anti-terrorist branch said.Informal lunch briefings were used to explain strategy, the former head of the SO13 anti-terrorist branch said.
However, he denied favouring particular news outlets.However, he denied favouring particular news outlets.
Mr Clarke is the first of three senior officers criticised for their handling of the News of the World phone-hacking scandal to appear before Thursday's hearing. Mr Clarke is the first of three senior officers criticised for their handling of the News of the World (NoW) phone-hacking scandal to appear before Thursday's hearing.
'Dodgy geezer' 'Totally disinterested'
The inquiry is currently examining the relationship between the press and police. The inquiry is currently examining the relationship between the press and police, with former Metropolitan Police assistant commissioners Andy Hayman and John Yates due to give evidence later.
Mr Clarke was giving evidence ahead of ex-assistant commissioner Andy Hayman, who led the original hacking investigation in 2006. The force was criticised over its links to News International and its journalists in the wake of the hacking scandal.
Asked about a briefing attended by the group's owner Rupert Murdoch, Mr Clarke said the mogul had turned up unexpectedly. The former officer said he was "totally disinterested" between media groups.
Briefings had been conducted amid accusations of the terrorist threat being exaggerated to support UK foreign policy and at a time when large numbers of people were being arrested without being brought to trial, Mr Clarke said.
"The purpose was not to make the police look good but to try to balance the public discussion so that communities could have confidence in the objectivity and integrity of what we were doing," he said.
Mr Hayman, who led the original hacking investigation in 2006, was due to give evidence after Mr Clarke.
Last July, Mr Hayman was criticised by MPs for having dinners with News International journalists while inquiries were ongoing, with one MP suggesting he would have appeared a "dodgy geezer".Last July, Mr Hayman was criticised by MPs for having dinners with News International journalists while inquiries were ongoing, with one MP suggesting he would have appeared a "dodgy geezer".
Former counter-terror chief John Yates, who resigned in July amid pressure over alleged links to a former executive at the group's now-defunct News of the World (NoW) title, is also due to appear. 'Extreme regret'
Former counter-terror chief Mr Yates resigned in July amid pressure over alleged links to a former executive at the now-defunct NoW.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission has cleared all three of misconduct over their roles in the original investigation.The Independent Police Complaints Commission has cleared all three of misconduct over their roles in the original investigation.
The watchdog also cleared Mr Yates of misconduct over claims that he secured a job for the daughter of Neil Wallis, a former NoW deputy editor.The watchdog also cleared Mr Yates of misconduct over claims that he secured a job for the daughter of Neil Wallis, a former NoW deputy editor.
Since leaving his post, Mr Yates has expressed "extreme regret" for ruling out reopening the phone-hacking investigation in 2009.Since leaving his post, Mr Yates has expressed "extreme regret" for ruling out reopening the phone-hacking investigation in 2009.
Scotland Yard's original phone-hacking inquiry resulted in the jailing of NoW royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire in January 2007, after they admitted intercepting voicemail messages left on royal aides' phones.Scotland Yard's original phone-hacking inquiry resulted in the jailing of NoW royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire in January 2007, after they admitted intercepting voicemail messages left on royal aides' phones.
However, the Met was heavily criticised for limiting the scope of the investigation despite evidence from Mulcaire's notebooks suggesting there could be thousands of hacking victims.However, the Met was heavily criticised for limiting the scope of the investigation despite evidence from Mulcaire's notebooks suggesting there could be thousands of hacking victims.
Mr Yates is expected to give evidence via video link from Bahrain, where he is overseeing reform of the police force.Mr Yates is expected to give evidence via video link from Bahrain, where he is overseeing reform of the police force.