London police accused of bungling phone-hacking probe
July 20th, 2011 - 3:19 pm ICT by IANS
London, July 20 (IANS) London police have been accused of a “catalogue of failures” in the News of the World phone-hacking inquiry in a damning report by MPs, BBC reported Wednesday.
The Commons home affairs committee also criticised News International’s, the publisher of the Sunday tabloid, “deliberate attempts to thwart investigations” into phone-hacking.
The committee is calling for extra resources for the police investigation so new hacking victims can be informed more quickly, the broadcaster reported on its website.
Prime Minister David Cameron was due to make a statement to the Commons later Wednesday.
He was expected to speak at the start of an all-day debate on the latest developments in the hacking scandal - for which parliament has been recalled from its summer recess.
While the MPs’ report blames News International for obstructing the first police inquiry into hacking, it says there was no “real will” on the part of Scotland Yard to tackle the news group’s failure to cooperate.
It says the conduct of former assistant commissioner Andy Hayman, who oversaw the investigation, was unprofessional and inappropriate.
It is “deplorable” that he began working for News International, owned by Australian American media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., two months after he left the Metropolitan Police Department, the report added.
Rebekah Brooks, the former head of News International, was released on bail early Monday following her arrest over phone-hacking allegations.
Brooks was an editor of News of the World 2002-2003 when it allegedly hacked phones, including that of murdered 13-year-old Milly Dowler.
She resigned last Friday over the hacking scandal, following the closure of the News of the World after a 168-year run.
- Rebekah Brooks released on bail - Jul 18, 2011
- News International CEO Rebekah Brooks quits (Lead) - Jul 15, 2011
- Rebekah Brooks arrested? - Jul 17, 2011
- News of the World's former editor charged - May 15, 2012
- 'Humbled' Murdoch denies responsibility for phone hacking (Lead) - Jul 20, 2011
- News International acted decisively in phone hacking case: Brooks - Jul 20, 2011
- Rebekah Brooks arrested over phone-hacking allegations (Lead) - Jul 17, 2011
- Rebekah Brooks terms phone hacking 'abhorrent' (Lead) - Jul 20, 2011
- Rupert Murdoch's son faces MPs over phone hacking - Nov 10, 2011
- Rebekah Brooks resigns - Jul 15, 2011
- Cameron says hacking probe to be widened, regrets hiring Coulson (Second Lead) - Jul 20, 2011
- Those involved in phone hacking must be prosecuted: Cameron - Jul 13, 2011
- I failed to probe phone hacking: British cop - Jul 10, 2011
- Another British police officer resigns over phone-hacking scandal - Jul 18, 2011
- News of the World ex-editor arrested over phone hacking (Lead) - Jul 08, 2011
Tags: assistant commissioner, commons home affairs committee, david cameron, deliberate attempts, early monday, extra resources, hayman, home affairs committee, london police, media mogul rupert murdoch, metropolitan police department, milly dowler, minister david, mogul rupert murdoch, news of the world, phone hacking, police inquiry, police investigation, scotland yard, summer recess