CPS to re-examine phone-hacking evidence
By politics.co.uk staff
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will re-examine the evidence in the phone hacking scandal, it has been confirmed.
The director of prosecutions, Keir Starmer, who just weeks ago said there were insufficient grounds for a prosecution, is set to undertake a new “comprehensive assessment” of all the material collected by Scotland Yard about the case.
The development follows the launch of an internal investigation by News of the World, which is accused of allowing widespread phone hacking of public figures under the editorship of No 10’s current director of communications, Andy Coulson, among others.
“We are both aware that there remain outstanding public, legal and political concerns,” the Met’s acting deputy commissioner, John Yates, wrote to Mr Starmer.
“This is particularly so in relation to the various and recently reported high profile civil cases, as well as the inquiry to be undertaken by the parliamentary standards & privileges committee.
“As a result, I consider it would be wise to invite you to further re-examine all the material collected in this matter.
“This would also enable you to advise me and assure yourself as to whether there is any existing material which could now form evidence in any future criminal prosecution relating to phone hacking.”
Prosecutors will go back to the original material from the investigation into Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire, along with any material that has arisen since then.
The assessment will be carried out by the CPS’ principal legal advisor, Alison Levitt.
The decision to reappraise the evidence will pour further embarrassment on both the Metropolitan police and the CPS, who have been roundly criticised for not taking the allegations seriously enough.
Some have called for the case to be taken out of the Met’s hands, after preliminary investigations led to assertions that there was not enough evidence to bring charges.
The decision to re-examine the case opens the possibility of Mr Coulson once again facing criminal charges.
