Met chief statement on phone-hacking in full
Read the full statement from Sir Paul Stephenson, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, about allegations of police failure around phone-hacking.
"There has been much speculation surrounding phone hacking, including that I was going to make a statement tomorrow. As I made clear to the Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, it was not my intention to do so, but following today's events, as Commissioner I think that it is only right that I make this statement. However, it is important that I do not say anything now that could compromise the current investigation or prejudge the Judicial Review or Public Inquiry that will follow.
"Today for the first time former DAC Peter Clarke put into the public domain his rationale and the reasons that the terms of the original inquiry were drawn relatively tightly. I hope this helps to inform the public debate and the reasons that the original inquiry operated as it did.
"We saw yet again Assistant Commissioner John Yates called to give evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee. John has taken on some of the Met's most difficult roles and has an excellent record in some very challenging areas. He never shies away from those difficult cases and in this particular matter, we need to give him credit for his courage and humility in acknowledging that if he knew then what he knows now, he would have taken different decisions. He currently undertakes one of the most difficult jobs in UK policing, and is doing an outstanding job leading our fight against terrorism. He has my full support and confidence, and that of our partners.
"As DAC Sue Akers said today we will continue to pursue our investigations against alleged corrupt journalists and corrupt police officers with determination and support the victims in doing so. No one who saw Sue's evidence today can be any doubt of this."
