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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Leveson inquiry: Keir Starmer - live | Leveson inquiry: Keir Starmer - live |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 1.09pm: Here are the full findings of Starmer's press statement of 16 July 2009: | 1.09pm: Here are the full findings of Starmer's press statement of 16 July 2009: |
| As a result of what I have been told I am satisfied that in the cases of Goodman and Mulcaire, the CPS was properly involved in providing advice both before and after charge; that the Metropolitan Police provided the CPS with all the relevant information and evidence upon which the charges were based; and that the prosecution approach in charging and prosecuting was proper and appropriate. | As a result of what I have been told I am satisfied that in the cases of Goodman and Mulcaire, the CPS was properly involved in providing advice both before and after charge; that the Metropolitan Police provided the CPS with all the relevant information and evidence upon which the charges were based; and that the prosecution approach in charging and prosecuting was proper and appropriate. |
| There has been much speculation about whether or not persons other than those identified above were the victims of unlawful interception of their mobile telephones. There has also been much speculation about whether other suspects were identified or investigated at the time. Having examined the material that was supplied to the CPS by the police in this case, I can confirm that no victims or suspects other than those referred to above were identified to the CPS at the time. I am not in a position to say whether the police had any information on any other victims or suspects that was not passed to the CPS. | There has been much speculation about whether or not persons other than those identified above were the victims of unlawful interception of their mobile telephones. There has also been much speculation about whether other suspects were identified or investigated at the time. Having examined the material that was supplied to the CPS by the police in this case, I can confirm that no victims or suspects other than those referred to above were identified to the CPS at the time. I am not in a position to say whether the police had any information on any other victims or suspects that was not passed to the CPS. |
| In light of my findings, it would not be appropriate to reopen the cases against Goodman or Mulcaire, or to revisit the decisions taken in the course of investigating and prosecuting them. | In light of my findings, it would not be appropriate to reopen the cases against Goodman or Mulcaire, or to revisit the decisions taken in the course of investigating and prosecuting them. |
| However, if and insofar as there may now be further information relating to other possible victims and suspects, that should be reported to the police who have responsibility for deciding whether or not to conduct a criminal investigation. I have no power to direct the police to conduct any such investigation. | However, if and insofar as there may now be further information relating to other possible victims and suspects, that should be reported to the police who have responsibility for deciding whether or not to conduct a criminal investigation. I have no power to direct the police to conduct any such investigation. |
| 12.57pm: The inquiry has now broken for lunch and will resume at 2pm. | 12.57pm: The inquiry has now broken for lunch and will resume at 2pm. |
| 12.57pm: Starmer issued a press statement on 16 July 2009 stating: | 12.57pm: Starmer issued a press statement on 16 July 2009 stating: |
| Having examined the material that was supplied to the CPS by the police in this case, I can confirm that no victims or suspects other than those referred to above were identified to the CPS at the time. I am not in a position to say whether the police had any information on any other victims or suspects that was not passed to the CPS. | Having examined the material that was supplied to the CPS by the police in this case, I can confirm that no victims or suspects other than those referred to above were identified to the CPS at the time. I am not in a position to say whether the police had any information on any other victims or suspects that was not passed to the CPS. |
| Asked about why he didn't ask the police if they had more information, Starmer says: | Asked about why he didn't ask the police if they had more information, Starmer says: |
| I was not concerned with whether the police had taken appropriate decision on the material available to them. I was concerned with whether the CPS had taken the appropriate decision on the material supplied to the CPS. It really wouldn't have been appropriate for me to say 'I'm going to investigate the material the police have to see whether they took appropriate decisions.' I was focusing on my organisation and the decisions taken in 2006 by the CPS. | I was not concerned with whether the police had taken appropriate decision on the material available to them. I was concerned with whether the CPS had taken the appropriate decision on the material supplied to the CPS. It really wouldn't have been appropriate for me to say 'I'm going to investigate the material the police have to see whether they took appropriate decisions.' I was focusing on my organisation and the decisions taken in 2006 by the CPS. |
| 12.55pm: Starmer stresses that he was told that no other suspects were considered in 2006. | 12.55pm: Starmer stresses that he was told that no other suspects were considered in 2006. |
| My concern was it was being suggested that there had been other suspects, we, the CPS, had taken not to pursue that suspect for whatever reason, and I'm being told 'nope, no other suspects were considered or charged. | |
| He says he was assured of this by Aser Hussein of his staff and Met investiagting officer DCI Keith Surtees's statement that "no other named subjects – apart from Goodman, Mulcaire and Mills – were identified as suspects of criminal activity through this investigation." | |
| "This gave me an answer to the concern that I had," he concludes. | |
| 12.50pm: Jay asks Starmer about the notes of a on 21 August 2006 conference suggesting that David Perry QC, leading counsel in the prosecution of Mulcaire and Goodman, had considered attempting to obtain a production order that could have revealed evidence that more than one reporter was implicated in phone hacking. | 12.50pm: Jay asks Starmer about the notes of a on 21 August 2006 conference suggesting that David Perry QC, leading counsel in the prosecution of Mulcaire and Goodman, had considered attempting to obtain a production order that could have revealed evidence that more than one reporter was implicated in phone hacking. |
| Starmer says "my understanding was that David Perry hadn't then or subsequently seen evidence implicating others". | Starmer says "my understanding was that David Perry hadn't then or subsequently seen evidence implicating others". |
| 12.48pm: Starmer agrees that Clements was under pressure from the Home Office to complete his review of the CPS's 2006 decision. | 12.48pm: Starmer agrees that Clements was under pressure from the Home Office to complete his review of the CPS's 2006 decision. |
| 12.46pm: On 14 July 2009, the Guardian's Nick Davies gave evidence to the Commons culture, media and sport select committee and presented the "for Neville" email that suggested that News International's "rogue reporter" defence was wrong. | 12.46pm: On 14 July 2009, the Guardian's Nick Davies gave evidence to the Commons culture, media and sport select committee and presented the "for Neville" email that suggested that News International's "rogue reporter" defence was wrong. |
| Starmer says: "I was waiting for the report that I would get later that week. And as you will see, one of the issues when I issued the result of my examination was a query from the Guardian as to whether or not the "for Neville" email had been considered. It is wasn't part of it at that stage, I hadn't seen the 'for Neville' email." | Starmer says: "I was waiting for the report that I would get later that week. And as you will see, one of the issues when I issued the result of my examination was a query from the Guardian as to whether or not the "for Neville" email had been considered. It is wasn't part of it at that stage, I hadn't seen the 'for Neville' email." |
| 12.43pm: Starmer says the CPS was unable to contact the prosecutor from 2006, Carmen Dowd, and was forced to make its own way through the evidence. | 12.43pm: Starmer says the CPS was unable to contact the prosecutor from 2006, Carmen Dowd, and was forced to make its own way through the evidence. |
| 12.32pm: Starmer recalls: | 12.32pm: Starmer recalls: |
| I needed to reconstruct the picture from the CPS point of view as quickly as possible. And so it was really the Guardian article that started the process and my thinking, but it was very rapidly followed by very many requests for more information, either from the press or from officials, so it was really all of that taken together that over the course of 9 July persuaded me that I needed to reinstruct the picture and do it rapidly. | I needed to reconstruct the picture from the CPS point of view as quickly as possible. And so it was really the Guardian article that started the process and my thinking, but it was very rapidly followed by very many requests for more information, either from the press or from officials, so it was really all of that taken together that over the course of 9 July persuaded me that I needed to reinstruct the picture and do it rapidly. |
| Lord Justice Leveson adds that questions were being asked in the House of Commons. | Lord Justice Leveson adds that questions were being asked in the House of Commons. |
| Starmer says: "I was finding it difficult to do so because I didn't have any knowledge, I didn't have the person who dealt with it, we were getting the material as quickly as we could, but when something is being treated as seriously as that, across government, it was obvious to me that I needed myself to get a much better picture." | Starmer says: "I was finding it difficult to do so because I didn't have any knowledge, I didn't have the person who dealt with it, we were getting the material as quickly as we could, but when something is being treated as seriously as that, across government, it was obvious to me that I needed myself to get a much better picture." |
| 12.30pm: Starmer issued a statement saying the CPS was conducting a review of the material supplied to it by the police in 2006. | 12.30pm: Starmer issued a statement saying the CPS was conducting a review of the material supplied to it by the police in 2006. |
| He says he was concerned to establish the CPS had made the right decision in 2006 and so limited the scope of the review: | He says he was concerned to establish the CPS had made the right decision in 2006 and so limited the scope of the review: |
| … my responsibility was to ensure that on material provided to us, that we made the right decision, and … so I limited the exercise to the material we had and the decision that we made as the Crown Prosecution Service. | … my responsibility was to ensure that on material provided to us, that we made the right decision, and … so I limited the exercise to the material we had and the decision that we made as the Crown Prosecution Service. |
| 12.28pm: Starmer says he had limited information at the time and took Yates's statement at face value. | 12.28pm: Starmer says he had limited information at the time and took Yates's statement at face value. |
| He says he didn't appreciate at the time that Yates had conducted the review of the phone-hacking case in "only a short time". | He says he didn't appreciate at the time that Yates had conducted the review of the phone-hacking case in "only a short time". |
| 12.27pm: Starmer is asked about Met assistant commissioner John Yates's statement about phone hacking on 9 July 2009, which said: | 12.27pm: Starmer is asked about Met assistant commissioner John Yates's statement about phone hacking on 9 July 2009, which said: |
| Where there was clear evidence that people had been the subject of tapping, they were all contacted by the police. | Where there was clear evidence that people had been the subject of tapping, they were all contacted by the police. |
| This case has been the subject of the most careful investigation by very experienced detectives … no additional evidence has come to light since this case has concluded. | This case has been the subject of the most careful investigation by very experienced detectives … no additional evidence has come to light since this case has concluded. |
| I therefore consider that no further investigation is required. | I therefore consider that no further investigation is required. |
| 12.22pm: Starmer says he was concerned about the Guardian's revelations. However, he rejected Guardian reporter David Leigh's request for answers to detailed questions as there was a flurry of press interest and he wanted to establish the facts from 2006-7 in detail. | 12.22pm: Starmer says he was concerned about the Guardian's revelations. However, he rejected Guardian reporter David Leigh's request for answers to detailed questions as there was a flurry of press interest and he wanted to establish the facts from 2006-7 in detail. |
| 12.21pm: Starmer says he asked Clements to review the Guardian's claim that the CPS had decided not to prosecute News International executives in 2006. | 12.21pm: Starmer says he asked Clements to review the Guardian's claim that the CPS had decided not to prosecute News International executives in 2006. |
| 12.19pm: Starmer says he appointed Simon Clements, who replaced Carmen Dowd as head of the CPS's special crime division, to deal with the Guardian's phone-hacking revelations in July 2009. | 12.19pm: Starmer says he appointed Simon Clements, who replaced Carmen Dowd as head of the CPS's special crime division, to deal with the Guardian's phone-hacking revelations in July 2009. |
| 12.18pm: The inquiry has resumed after a short break and Keir Starmer takes the stand. | 12.18pm: The inquiry has resumed after a short break and Keir Starmer takes the stand. |
| 12.18pm: This morning, the inquiry heard from Lord Macdonald, director of public prosecutions from 2003 to 2008 and Starmer's predecessor. | 12.18pm: This morning, the inquiry heard from Lord Macdonald, director of public prosecutions from 2003 to 2008 and Starmer's predecessor. |
| Macdonald ran through in detail the CPS's role in the 2006 prosecutions of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire for phone hacking. | Macdonald ran through in detail the CPS's role in the 2006 prosecutions of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire for phone hacking. |
| Starmer stressed that the CPS did not take the particular course it did due to lack of funding to pursue wider prosecutions: "There were no resource pressures on the CPS." | Starmer stressed that the CPS did not take the particular course it did due to lack of funding to pursue wider prosecutions: "There were no resource pressures on the CPS." |
| He also said that the CPS had no power to direct the police in the course of their inquiries. | He also said that the CPS had no power to direct the police in the course of their inquiries. |
| Starmer outlined the briefings he received from former prosecutor Carmen Dowd, who has since left the CPS. | |
| 12.17pm: The Guardian's Lisa O'Carroll reported last night that Rupert Murdoch and his son James are expected to give evidence at the Leveson inquiry. She reports: | 12.17pm: The Guardian's Lisa O'Carroll reported last night that Rupert Murdoch and his son James are expected to give evidence at the Leveson inquiry. She reports: |
| Rupert Murdoch and James Murdoch are expected to appear at the inquiry into press ethics within weeks after Lord Justice Leveson announced he would be calling in newspaper owners to give evidence between now and the middle of May. | Rupert Murdoch and James Murdoch are expected to appear at the inquiry into press ethics within weeks after Lord Justice Leveson announced he would be calling in newspaper owners to give evidence between now and the middle of May. |
| Lord Rothermere, owner of Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers, is also expected to be asked to testify under oath. | Lord Rothermere, owner of Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers, is also expected to be asked to testify under oath. |
| So too is Eygeny Lebedev, the son of the Russian proprietor of the Evening Standard, Independent and the cut-price i. It is believed all three proprietors have been pencilled in for the week beginning 23 April. | So too is Eygeny Lebedev, the son of the Russian proprietor of the Evening Standard, Independent and the cut-price i. It is believed all three proprietors have been pencilled in for the week beginning 23 April. |
| Aidan Barclay the son of media-shy Sir David Barclay - who with his brother and Sir Frederick owns the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph - is also to be called. | Aidan Barclay the son of media-shy Sir David Barclay - who with his brother and Sir Frederick owns the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph - is also to be called. |
| The newspaper owners are expected to be grilled about their relationship with politicians including David Cameron and past prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, including details of their specific meetings, correspondence and telephone calls. | The newspaper owners are expected to be grilled about their relationship with politicians including David Cameron and past prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, including details of their specific meetings, correspondence and telephone calls. |
| Rebekah Brooks, the former chief executive of News International, has been confirmed as a witness for the next module of the inquiry which is examining the relationships between the press and politicians. | Rebekah Brooks, the former chief executive of News International, has been confirmed as a witness for the next module of the inquiry which is examining the relationships between the press and politicians. |
| Tom Watson, the Labour MP who led the calls for an investigation into phone hacking, has applied to be a core particpant in the next stage of the inquiry as has Brooks and Evan Harris, the former Liberal Democrat MP who advised the Hacked Off campaign for an inquiry into press standards last July. | Tom Watson, the Labour MP who led the calls for an investigation into phone hacking, has applied to be a core particpant in the next stage of the inquiry as has Brooks and Evan Harris, the former Liberal Democrat MP who advised the Hacked Off campaign for an inquiry into press standards last July. |
| David Cameron, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown will also be called before Leveson, who is expected to discuss their relationship with the Murdochs, Rothermeres and Barclays in the runup to general elections. | David Cameron, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown will also be called before Leveson, who is expected to discuss their relationship with the Murdochs, Rothermeres and Barclays in the runup to general elections. |
| You can read the full story here. | You can read the full story here. |
| 12.14pm: Welcome to the Leveson inquiry live blog. | 12.14pm: Welcome to the Leveson inquiry live blog. |
| Today's key witness is the director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer. | Today's key witness is the director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer. |
| Starmer first gave evidence in February, when he said the CPS was drafting an interim policy on the prosecution of journalists. He is likely to outline the draft and give an update on the consultation that is due to take place. | Starmer first gave evidence in February, when he said the CPS was drafting an interim policy on the prosecution of journalists. He is likely to outline the draft and give an update on the consultation that is due to take place. |
| Please note that comments have been switched off for legal reasons. | Please note that comments have been switched off for legal reasons. |