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Leveson warns Metropolitan police it faces criticism Leveson warns Metropolitan police it faces criticism
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The Metropolitan police has been formally warned by Lord Justice Leveson that it faces criticism from his inquiry into the force's handling of the phone-hacking scandal and relations with the media.The Metropolitan police has been formally warned by Lord Justice Leveson that it faces criticism from his inquiry into the force's handling of the phone-hacking scandal and relations with the media.
A letter to the Met says the force's own actions allowed a perception to emerge that certain media organisations were favoured. It has also been warned that senior officers were encouraged to be close to the media over many years.A letter to the Met says the force's own actions allowed a perception to emerge that certain media organisations were favoured. It has also been warned that senior officers were encouraged to be close to the media over many years.
Several past and serving officers have been told that the inquiry is minded to criticise them over their actions and decision-making during the first phone-hacking investigation in 2006, and then a decision to refuse to reopen the criminal investigation for 18 months from the summer of 2009 despite mounting evidence that the number of victims was much wider than officially admitted.Several past and serving officers have been told that the inquiry is minded to criticise them over their actions and decision-making during the first phone-hacking investigation in 2006, and then a decision to refuse to reopen the criminal investigation for 18 months from the summer of 2009 despite mounting evidence that the number of victims was much wider than officially admitted.
Leveson's long-awaited report is published on Thursday and will rule on the relationships between the press, politicians and police. While most media coverage preceding publication has focused on the reform of press regulation, the report is also one of the most significant inquiries into the conduct of the police in a generation.Leveson's long-awaited report is published on Thursday and will rule on the relationships between the press, politicians and police. While most media coverage preceding publication has focused on the reform of press regulation, the report is also one of the most significant inquiries into the conduct of the police in a generation.
The Leveson inquiry's warning letters, known as rule 13 letters, must be sent if the inquiry panel is considering making explicit or significant criticism of an individual or organisation, who then must be given an opportunity to respond. It is believed Leveson has not given notice that he intends to directly attack the integrity of any past or serving officer.The Leveson inquiry's warning letters, known as rule 13 letters, must be sent if the inquiry panel is considering making explicit or significant criticism of an individual or organisation, who then must be given an opportunity to respond. It is believed Leveson has not given notice that he intends to directly attack the integrity of any past or serving officer.
The phone-hacking scandal convulsed the Met, Britain's biggest police force, leading to accusations that Scotland Yard had failed to investigate the full extent of criminal practices at News International titles because it was too close or fearful of the media group controlled by Rupert Murdoch. Some went further and suggested the Met's allegedly botched inquiries were the result of impropriety.The phone-hacking scandal convulsed the Met, Britain's biggest police force, leading to accusations that Scotland Yard had failed to investigate the full extent of criminal practices at News International titles because it was too close or fearful of the media group controlled by Rupert Murdoch. Some went further and suggested the Met's allegedly botched inquiries were the result of impropriety.
When the Guardian ran the first of a series of articles saying that phone hacking at the News of the World (NoW) went beyond one rogue reporter, assistant commissioner John Yates took no more than eight hours in July 2009 to decide there was no need to reopen the criminal inquiry. He later said his decision, with hindsight, had been "pretty crap". When the Guardian ran the first of a series of articles saying that phone hacking at the News of the World (NoW) went beyond one rogue reporter, the then assistant commissioner John Yates took no more than eight hours in July 2009 to decide there was no need to reopen the criminal inquiry. He later said his decision, with hindsight, had been "pretty crap".
The refusal lasted until 2011, during which time police chiefs pressed the Guardian in private meetings that there was no basis to its allegations. The Met said new evidence handed over by News International, finally fulfilling the company's promise to co-operate with police, led to the new criminal investigation which, in turn, led to charges against Murdoch's journalists over hacking and illegal payments for information.The refusal lasted until 2011, during which time police chiefs pressed the Guardian in private meetings that there was no basis to its allegations. The Met said new evidence handed over by News International, finally fulfilling the company's promise to co-operate with police, led to the new criminal investigation which, in turn, led to charges against Murdoch's journalists over hacking and illegal payments for information.
Andy Coulson, the former editor of the News of the World, Rebekah Brooks, the former editor of the Sun who resigned as News International chief executive, Clive Goodman, the former royal editor of the Sun, and Bettina Jordan-Barber, an official at the Ministry of Defence, will appear in court on Thursday on charges relating to Operation Elveden, the Met inquiry into alleged payments to police and public officials.Andy Coulson, the former editor of the News of the World, Rebekah Brooks, the former editor of the Sun who resigned as News International chief executive, Clive Goodman, the former royal editor of the Sun, and Bettina Jordan-Barber, an official at the Ministry of Defence, will appear in court on Thursday on charges relating to Operation Elveden, the Met inquiry into alleged payments to police and public officials.
At the Leveson inquiry, Yates was questioned about champagne bought for him by the NoW and dinners at upmarket restaurants with newspaper executives and journalists. The fallout from phone hacking led to the resignation in July 2011 of the then commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson, followed the next day by Yates.At the Leveson inquiry, Yates was questioned about champagne bought for him by the NoW and dinners at upmarket restaurants with newspaper executives and journalists. The fallout from phone hacking led to the resignation in July 2011 of the then commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson, followed the next day by Yates.
The demise of its top leadership followed more than a year of allegations, but was cemented when it was revealed that former NoW deputy editor Neil Wallis had been employed part-time by the force to work on strategic communications.The demise of its top leadership followed more than a year of allegations, but was cemented when it was revealed that former NoW deputy editor Neil Wallis had been employed part-time by the force to work on strategic communications.
Among those whose roles have been questioned during the hearings are Andy Hayman, head of specialist operations at Scotland Yard at the time of the first hacking inquiry; and Dick Fedorcio, former Met head of communications. Fedorcio denied rigging a tendering process to ensure a £1,000-a-day contract went to Wallis.Among those whose roles have been questioned during the hearings are Andy Hayman, head of specialist operations at Scotland Yard at the time of the first hacking inquiry; and Dick Fedorcio, former Met head of communications. Fedorcio denied rigging a tendering process to ensure a £1,000-a-day contract went to Wallis.
The Met's position was set out by its counsel, Neil Garnham QC, in his closing statement. He said: "We frankly admit that there have been incidents which have led to a plain perception of cosiness between particular senior Metropolitan police service officers and particular journalists [and we] also acknowledge that the decisions in July 2009 and September 2010 not to reopen the phone-hacking investigation were taken too quickly and with a defensive and closed mindset."The Met's position was set out by its counsel, Neil Garnham QC, in his closing statement. He said: "We frankly admit that there have been incidents which have led to a plain perception of cosiness between particular senior Metropolitan police service officers and particular journalists [and we] also acknowledge that the decisions in July 2009 and September 2010 not to reopen the phone-hacking investigation were taken too quickly and with a defensive and closed mindset."
The Met is keen to avoid any criticism from Leveson that its actions were corrupt or the result of inappropriate relationships with News International. Garnham said: "The evidence has demonstrated that the phone-hacking investigation was not at any stage limited because of pressure from or fear of the media, whether News International or the press more broadly."The Met is keen to avoid any criticism from Leveson that its actions were corrupt or the result of inappropriate relationships with News International. Garnham said: "The evidence has demonstrated that the phone-hacking investigation was not at any stage limited because of pressure from or fear of the media, whether News International or the press more broadly."