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Leveson Inquiry: Jail officers 'took illegal payments' Leveson Inquiry: Jail officers 'took illegal payments'
(40 minutes later)
Two officers at high-security prisons allegedly took illegal payments from Mirror, Express and News International journalists, a senior police officer has told the Leveson Inquiry.Two officers at high-security prisons allegedly took illegal payments from Mirror, Express and News International journalists, a senior police officer has told the Leveson Inquiry.
Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers said one officer had allegedly received £35,000.Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers said one officer had allegedly received £35,000.
Stories possibly linked to the payments revealed "very limited material of genuine public interest", she said. But she said stories possibly linked to the payments revealed "very limited material of genuine public interest".
The fourth module of the inquiry is focused on future press regulation. Trinity Mirror said it was co-operating with the police on the matter.
DAC Akers is leading inquiries into phone hacking, claims of police corruption and computer crime. The fourth module of the inquiry, launched in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal, is focused on future press regulation.
DAC Akers is leading investigations into phone hacking, claims of corrupt payments to public officials, including police officers, and computer crime.
In her evidence, she said Scotland Yard had analysed stories possibly linked to payments to two senior prison officers at separate prisons.In her evidence, she said Scotland Yard had analysed stories possibly linked to payments to two senior prison officers at separate prisons.
She said: "It's our assessment that there are reasonable grounds to suspect offences have been committed and that the majority of these stories reveal very limited material of genuine public interest."She said: "It's our assessment that there are reasonable grounds to suspect offences have been committed and that the majority of these stories reveal very limited material of genuine public interest."
The inquiry heard that one prison officer was accused of taking illegal payments of nearly £35,000 from Trinity Mirror, News International and Express Newspapers during the period between April 2010 and June 2011.The inquiry heard that one prison officer was accused of taking illegal payments of nearly £35,000 from Trinity Mirror, News International and Express Newspapers during the period between April 2010 and June 2011.
Additional payments are also alleged to have been made, with a final payment in February 2012, she said.Additional payments are also alleged to have been made, with a final payment in February 2012, she said.
The other official allegedly received payments totalling more than £14,000 from Trinity Mirror between February 2006 and January 2012.The other official allegedly received payments totalling more than £14,000 from Trinity Mirror between February 2006 and January 2012.
Nick Fullagar, director of corporate communications for Trinity Mirror, said: "We take any accusation against the company very seriously and we are co-operating with the police on this matter.
"We remain engaged with the Leveson Inquiry."
Data intrusionData intrusion
In her evidence, DAC Akers said the Met had arrested 41 individuals as part of the Operation Elveden inquiry into corrupt payments to officials, and 15 current and former journalists in relation to conspiracy to intercept communications. DAC Akers said the Met had arrested 41 individuals as part of the Operation Elveden inquiry into corrupt payments to officials - including 23 former or current journalists, four police officers, nine current or former public officials and five people who allegedly acted as go-betweens.
Fifteen current and former journalists have been arrested so far by Operation Weeting officers - the Met's investigation into phone hacking - of whom 12 are on bail.
The inquiry heard that six people, including former Sun editor Rebekah Brooks and her husband Charlie, have been charged in relation to that investigation, and are expected to appear in court in September.
Ms Akers also said that files relating to three police officers and one journalist are currently with the Crown Prosecution Service.
Meanwhile, seven arrests have been made as part of Operation Tuleta - a third inquiry looking at allegations that computers were hacked to obtain private information.
The inquiry heard that police were looking into 101 separate allegations of data intrusion, and examining eight to 11 terabytes of electronic data.The inquiry heard that police were looking into 101 separate allegations of data intrusion, and examining eight to 11 terabytes of electronic data.
Ms Akers has led Operation Weeting since January 2011, overseeing a team of officers looking at phone hacking at the News of the World (NoW), which was closed in the wake of the scandal. Ms Akers told the inquiry she was happy to return to give further evidence in September.
Operation Elveden is looking at emails received from News International that allegedly show payments made to police by the NoW.
A third inquiry, Operation Tuleta, is looking at allegations that computers were hacked to obtain private information.
During evidence to the Leveson Inquiry in February, DAC Akers, who is due to retire from the Met in May, outlined details of payments of tens of thousands of pounds made by journalists to public officials.During evidence to the Leveson Inquiry in February, DAC Akers, who is due to retire from the Met in May, outlined details of payments of tens of thousands of pounds made by journalists to public officials.
She said the Sun had had a "culture of illegal payments" and claimed £80,000 had been paid to one individual over a number of years, while one journalist had received £150,000 from the paper to pay sources.She said the Sun had had a "culture of illegal payments" and claimed £80,000 had been paid to one individual over a number of years, while one journalist had received £150,000 from the paper to pay sources.
Her evidence was examined by the attorney general to see whether it had prejudiced any trials resulting from the investigation.Her evidence was examined by the attorney general to see whether it had prejudiced any trials resulting from the investigation.
The inquiry will also hear closing submissions from the Met, Telegraph Media Group and Associated Newspapers.The inquiry will also hear closing submissions from the Met, Telegraph Media Group and Associated Newspapers.