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| How phone-hacking scandal grew despite 'rogue reporter' claim | How phone-hacking scandal grew despite 'rogue reporter' claim |
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| The decision by the Crown Prosecution Service to charge eight people over phone hacking carried out for the News of the World represents the state – belatedly, say some of the alleged victims – treating seriously the alleged scale of the conspiracy to listen to people's voicemails. | The decision by the Crown Prosecution Service to charge eight people over phone hacking carried out for the News of the World represents the state – belatedly, say some of the alleged victims – treating seriously the alleged scale of the conspiracy to listen to people's voicemails. |
| In July 2009, when the Guardian ran its first substantial piece on hacking, the paper found itself in a lonely place. The prospect of reopening the criminal investigation, let alone charging the News of the World's most senior executives, was dismissed by Scotland Yard. | In July 2009, when the Guardian ran its first substantial piece on hacking, the paper found itself in a lonely place. The prospect of reopening the criminal investigation, let alone charging the News of the World's most senior executives, was dismissed by Scotland Yard. |
| The Guardian article revealed hacking was wider than "one rogue reporter", the defence the Murdoch operation offered after one of its journalists and a private investigator were convicted of hacking phones belonging to the royal household in 2007. Then, as now, former News of the World editors Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks denied any knowledge or involvement, as did other journalists at the paper. | The Guardian article revealed hacking was wider than "one rogue reporter", the defence the Murdoch operation offered after one of its journalists and a private investigator were convicted of hacking phones belonging to the royal household in 2007. Then, as now, former News of the World editors Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks denied any knowledge or involvement, as did other journalists at the paper. |
| The Metropolitan police said that the Guardian article contained no new evidence, nor was there much point in sifting through unexamined evidence it held from its 2006-07 inquiry, which critics said would show that the alleged wrongdoing was widespread at the then dominant Sunday newspaper. The police refusal to reopen the investigation held throughout the rest of 2009 and 2010. | The Metropolitan police said that the Guardian article contained no new evidence, nor was there much point in sifting through unexamined evidence it held from its 2006-07 inquiry, which critics said would show that the alleged wrongdoing was widespread at the then dominant Sunday newspaper. The police refusal to reopen the investigation held throughout the rest of 2009 and 2010. |
| Meantime more of those who believed they had been victims hired lawyers who began civil claims for damages against News International. These proceedings would produce documents and evidence that raised further doubts about the "one rogue reporter" defence. | Meantime more of those who believed they had been victims hired lawyers who began civil claims for damages against News International. These proceedings would produce documents and evidence that raised further doubts about the "one rogue reporter" defence. |
| In January 2011 the civil claims led to email evidence that appeared to implicate an executive with the knowledge of hacking. Days later, on 13 January 2011, News International began a "comprehensive" inquiry into hacking allegations, which appears to have been more thorough than its earlier efforts. | In January 2011 the civil claims led to email evidence that appeared to implicate an executive with the knowledge of hacking. Days later, on 13 January 2011, News International began a "comprehensive" inquiry into hacking allegations, which appears to have been more thorough than its earlier efforts. |
| On 21 January 2011, Coulson resigned from his subsequent post as the prime minister's director of communications, buffeted by constant allegations about phone hacking when he was editor. "When the spokesman needs a spokesman, it's time to move on," Coulson said. | On 21 January 2011, Coulson resigned from his subsequent post as the prime minister's director of communications, buffeted by constant allegations about phone hacking when he was editor. "When the spokesman needs a spokesman, it's time to move on," Coulson said. |
| Concern had been growing in parliament, and some had initially seen the continued questioning about phone hacking as a politically motivated exercise to attack the Conservative led government through its employment of Coulson. That view was shared by some at Scotland Yard. | Concern had been growing in parliament, and some had initially seen the continued questioning about phone hacking as a politically motivated exercise to attack the Conservative led government through its employment of Coulson. That view was shared by some at Scotland Yard. |
| The new internal NI inquiry uncovered fresh material that was passed to the police. The Met's acting commissioner Tim Godwin and other senior officers viewed it as "significant new information". After 18 months of refusals, the Yard announced a new criminal inquiry into phone hacking. | The new internal NI inquiry uncovered fresh material that was passed to the police. The Met's acting commissioner Tim Godwin and other senior officers viewed it as "significant new information". After 18 months of refusals, the Yard announced a new criminal inquiry into phone hacking. |
| The new investigation was moved from the specialist operations unit that the then assistant commissioner John Yates oversaw, and into a different section of the Met, under deputy assistant commissioner Sue Akers. | The new investigation was moved from the specialist operations unit that the then assistant commissioner John Yates oversaw, and into a different section of the Met, under deputy assistant commissioner Sue Akers. |
| Within weeks new high profile potential victims were being uncovered, including Lord Prescott. By April, police started arresting journalists from the Sunday tabloid, with evidence from News International's files and computers being handed over by a specially set up management and standards committee. | Within weeks new high profile potential victims were being uncovered, including Lord Prescott. By April, police started arresting journalists from the Sunday tabloid, with evidence from News International's files and computers being handed over by a specially set up management and standards committee. |
| In July 2011 the Guardian revealed that Milly Dowler's phone had been hacked as police investigated her murder. That story, and the wave of outrage that followed, led to the closure of the News of the World and the formation of the Leveson inquiry into press standards. Later that month Sir Paul Stephenson resigned as the Met commissioner, followed the next day by Yates, as the Yard became embarrassed by allegations it got too close to News International. The phone hacking investigation and its spinoffs consumed resources. The former deputy mayor of London, Kit Malthouse, said the various inquiries were forecast to cost £40m and tie up 200 police officers. | In July 2011 the Guardian revealed that Milly Dowler's phone had been hacked as police investigated her murder. That story, and the wave of outrage that followed, led to the closure of the News of the World and the formation of the Leveson inquiry into press standards. Later that month Sir Paul Stephenson resigned as the Met commissioner, followed the next day by Yates, as the Yard became embarrassed by allegations it got too close to News International. The phone hacking investigation and its spinoffs consumed resources. The former deputy mayor of London, Kit Malthouse, said the various inquiries were forecast to cost £40m and tie up 200 police officers. |
| On Monday it emerged that the Met inquiry into the alleged bribing of public officials had spread to the Trinity Mirror and Express Newspapers, having started out investigating the Sun newspaper. | On Monday it emerged that the Met inquiry into the alleged bribing of public officials had spread to the Trinity Mirror and Express Newspapers, having started out investigating the Sun newspaper. |
| Akers said police believed there were 4,775 potential victims of phone hacking, of whom 2,615 had been notified. She told Leveson her force had notified more than 702 people who were "likely" to have been victims. | Akers said police believed there were 4,775 potential victims of phone hacking, of whom 2,615 had been notified. She told Leveson her force had notified more than 702 people who were "likely" to have been victims. |
| The criminal trials are just one act of the phone hacking saga that will play out over the coming months. There will be the findings of the Leveson inquiry, the civil trials for damages, and the corporate saga surrounding Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation with the aging mogul attempting to stay in control. | The criminal trials are just one act of the phone hacking saga that will play out over the coming months. There will be the findings of the Leveson inquiry, the civil trials for damages, and the corporate saga surrounding Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation with the aging mogul attempting to stay in control. |
| The CPS will have other charging decisions to make following the fallout from the phone hacking scandal. A total of 24 people including 15 current and former journalists have been arrested under Operation Weeting. | The CPS will have other charging decisions to make following the fallout from the phone hacking scandal. A total of 24 people including 15 current and former journalists have been arrested under Operation Weeting. |
| But Weeting has spawned other operations. Police have also detained 41 people under Operation Elveden, an investigation into alleged corrupt payments made to police officers and other public officials. Seven people have been arrested as part of Operation Tuleta, investigating the scale of computer hacking and other breaches of privacy. | But Weeting has spawned other operations. Police have also detained 41 people under Operation Elveden, an investigation into alleged corrupt payments made to police officers and other public officials. Seven people have been arrested as part of Operation Tuleta, investigating the scale of computer hacking and other breaches of privacy. |
| • This article was amended on 26 July 2012, because the picture caption said John Yates led the initial Metropolitan police investigation into phone hacking. He did not lead that 2006 investigation but reviewed it in 2009, after Guardian reports about phone hacking, and decided that the police investigation did not need to be reopened. |