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MPs may consider phone hacking claims against other industries MPs consider phone hacking claims against other industries
(1 day later)
MPs are considering examining claims that legal and telecoms firms used private investigators to hack and steal information from rivals and the public. MPs are to examine claims that legal and telecoms firms used private investigators to hack and steal information from rivals and the public.
The Commons Home Affairs Committee may seek to question members of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (Soca) about what they know about the allegations. The Commons Home Affairs Committee is to ask the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (Soca) what it knew about the allegations and to provide information.
The Independent has obtained a Soca document which it said suggested it was aware of such practices five years ago. This followed claims in The Independent that Soca documents suggested it was aware of such practices five years ago.
Committee chairman Keith Vaz said they must be shown all relevant material. Soca said the material was confidential but would be provided "as required".
Soca's responsibilities are due to be taken over by the National Crime Agency in December. The agency's responsibilities are due to be taken over by the National Crime Agency in December.
'Confidential''Confidential'
In 2008, Soca produced a confidential report on the issue of licensing the private investigation industry, which drew on intelligence from police investigations into alleged criminal activity.In 2008, Soca produced a confidential report on the issue of licensing the private investigation industry, which drew on intelligence from police investigations into alleged criminal activity.
It is understood the committee had access to the report during its inquiry into private investigators last year.It is understood the committee had access to the report during its inquiry into private investigators last year.
According to the Independent, the Soca document in question suggested that legal, telecoms and insurance firms routinely used private investigators to obtain information illegally - with one claiming that they made up 80% of their client list.According to the Independent, the Soca document in question suggested that legal, telecoms and insurance firms routinely used private investigators to obtain information illegally - with one claiming that they made up 80% of their client list.
Mr Vaz said it asked the agency for all relevant material when it was conducting its investigation and would now consider whether it should take up the matter again with the force again. Keith Vaz, the Labour MP who chairs the committee, said it had asked the agency for all relevant material when it was conducting its earlier investigation and following a meeting of the committee on Tuesday, had decided to take up the matter again with the force.
"It appears that all these documents were not provided to the committee," he said. "I will be putting this on the committee's agenda for Tuesday and asking members if we should recall the relevant witnesses. "We are requesting from Soca a copy of all the information they hold on private investigators and their links with the public and private sector," he said.
"I am concerned that with the abolition of Soca, vital evidence may be lost in the transfer to the NCA." "I have also written to request a list of clients who employed private detectives which obtained information unlawfully."
'On request''On request'
Among those to appear before last year's inquiry were prominent lawyers, private investigators, policemen and figures from the security industry although no-one from Soca appeared in person. In its report, the committee made recommendations for their future governance of private investigators and urged the setting of tougher penalties for the trade in information obtained by illegal means.
"This report remains confidential and Soca does not comment on leaked documents or specific criminal investigations," a spokeswoman for the agency said. No-one from Soca appeared in person during the inquiry but a spokeswoman said information would be "shared with partners as required".
"Information is shared with partners as required." But she stressed the agency would not comment on leaked documents or specific criminal investigations.
Four private detectives were jailed in 2012 for conspiring to defraud people by "blagging" personal information via persuasive phone calls as part of Operation Millipede. The four were working for private companies, solicitors and individuals.Four private detectives were jailed in 2012 for conspiring to defraud people by "blagging" personal information via persuasive phone calls as part of Operation Millipede. The four were working for private companies, solicitors and individuals.
The Leveson Inquiry into press standards - triggered by allegations of phone hacking at the News of the World newspaper - did not look into the issue of the involvement of other types of firms as it was outside its remit. The Levisohn Inquiry into press standards - triggered by allegations of phone hacking at the News of the World newspaper - did not look into the issue of the involvement of other types of firms as it was outside its remit.
Speaking in the Commons on Monday, Home Secretary Theresa May said suggestions that phone hacking was not confined to newspapers was "worrying" but it was up to the police pursue individual allegations.
Pressure group Hacked Off, which has campaigned for new laws to protect victims of hacking, said it was "opposed to illegal information gathering in all forms" and said alleged criminal conduct should be rigorously pursued by the police.Pressure group Hacked Off, which has campaigned for new laws to protect victims of hacking, said it was "opposed to illegal information gathering in all forms" and said alleged criminal conduct should be rigorously pursued by the police.