Schoolgirl Milly Dowler went missing nine years ago

 

News of the World accused of hacking Milly Dowler's phone‎

 

This round-up of today's main media stories looks at the latest revelations in the News of the World phone-hacking investigation.

 

A Guardian investigation accuses the News of the World of illegally targeted the missing schoolgirl Milly Dowler and her family in March 2002, interfering with police inquiries into her disappearance. The newspaper goes on to say Scotland Yard's investigation is likely to put new pressure on the then-editor of the paper, Rebekah Brooks now Rupert Murdoch's UK chief executive; and her then deputy, Andy Coulson, who resigned in January as the prime minister's media adviser.

 

The BBC adds a lawyer for the family also says an investigator working for the News of the World allegedly hacked into the Milly Dowler's mobile. Mark Lewis said police told her parents that Glenn Mulcaire hacked into her voicemail while she was missing. News International said: "This is clearly a development of great concern and we will be conducting our own inquiries as a result. We will obviously co-operate fully with any police request on this should we be asked."

 

Digital Spy says "the BBC has insisted that it is not planning to ban its staff, talent and writers from using social networking sites such as Twitter". The site explains that it was reported that the corporation is looking to forbid its top talent from posting on sites such as Twitter, Facebook and internet forums to prevent anyone leaking sensitive details regarding their involvement in BBC productions.

 

The allegation that a private investigator working for the News of the World hacked into murdered Milly Dowler's mobile phone dominates the papers, as reported in the BBC's newspapers review.

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7hGmwH_X3E]YouTube - ‪Milly Dowler's phone hacked‬‏[/ame]

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14027866

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-6OL-TgK9Q]YouTube - ‪Outrage over Milly hacking‬‏[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upO1k7V7wQU]YouTube - ‪Cameron: 'Dowler hacking claims are dreadful'‬‏[/ame]

It appears that everyone's now getting well "hacked off" about this.............................. :rolleyes:

Soham murder victims' families contacted by phone hack police

 

The parents of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were contacted by police investigating allegations of phone hacking

 

Soham murder victims' families contacted by phone hack police

 

Officers from Scotland Yard met the families about two months ago - around the same time Milly Dowler's parents were told her phone had been allegedly hacked - a spokesman for Cambridgeshire Police said.

 

It is not clear what detectives told the families, but the fact the meeting took place suggests police are concerned that they too may have been victims of phone hack carried out by investigators working for the News of the World.

 

Holly and Jessica were abducted and murdered in Soham, Cambridgeshire in August 2002 - just five months after Milly disappeared on the way back to her home in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.

 

The spokesman said: “Both families have been contacted by officers from the Metropolitan Police and are assisting with them with their inquiries."

 

Neither family would comment on the meeting, nor would the Metropolitan Police.

 

The revelation will bring new pressure on Rebekah Brooks, the chief executive of News International, who was editor of the News of the World at the time of both of the murder cases. Earlier today, Labour leader Ed Miliband called on her to “consider her conscience and consider her position" as outrage grew over claims that Milly’s phone had been hacked just days after she disappeared. In a statement Mrs Brooks said she was “appalled and shocked” by the allegations but was determined to remain in place as chief executive.

 

She said: "We were all appalled and shocked when we heard about these allegations yesterday. "I have to tell you that I am sickened that these events are alleged to have happened."

 

The possibility of the Soham families' phones being hacked was raised months ago when John Yates, acting deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, was asked by a parliamentary committee if he thought it was possible their voice mails had been accessed. He replied that he was unaware of the claim.

 

In a speech in June, Labour MP Tom Watson repeated the allegations saying: "When the nation was grieving, they tried to hack the phones of the parents of the children who were murdered in Soham."

 

The House of Commons will tomorrow hold a three-hour debate on the issue of phone-hacking, following a request by Chris Bryant, a former Labour minister who is himself taking legal action against News International after it was claimed his voicemail was accessed.

As News International faced criticism from across the political spectrum, advertisers began to shy away from being associated with the News of the World.

 

Ford said it was pulling its advertising from the paper, with spokesman saying: ""Ford is a company which cares about the standards of behaviour of its own people and those it deals with externally.

"We are awaiting an outcome from the News of the World investigation and expect a speedy and decisive response.

 

"Pending this response we will be using alternative media within and outside News International Group instead of placing Ford advertising in the News of the World."

 

Npower and Halifax both said they were considering their options.

‎

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8618708/Soham-murder-victims-families-contacted-by-phone-hack-police.html

Nobody should be in the least bit surprised, anyway. Those "Fleet Street" journos are commonly known as "hacks", after all............................... :rolleyes:

Just saw Labour MP Tom Watson give a speech in Parliament in this debate. Agreed with everything he said.

 

A whole clutch of sponsors have also cancelled their sponsorship of NOTW. Stocks down in New York for News International. Facebook page also set up to boycott the newspaper.

 

http://www.facebook.com/boycottNOTW

NOTW will be a very thin pagination on the shelves soon!

7/7 photo man Paul Dadge's phone 'possibly hacked'

 

Paul Dadge helped survivors outside Edgware Road Tube Station in 2005

 

7/7 photo man Paul Dadge's phone 'possibly hacked'

 

A man famously pictured helping a woman at the scene of one of the 7/7 bombings says he has received an e-mail from police over the phone hacking scandal. Paul Dadge, from Cannock, helped survivors outside Edgware Road Tube Station in 2005.

 

Detectives looking into claims against the News of the World have contacted the families of some victims. The relatives have been told their details had been found at the home of a private detective. Mr Dadge said the e-mail from Metropolitan Police said officers were going through "copious amounts of records" and may be back in touch.

 

He gave his reaction to the latest developments to BBC WM on Wednesday. He said: "It's not a great surprise. We started off with the allegations that celebrities had had their phones hacked and when we started talking about Milly Dowler's family having their phones hacked, in the back of my head I did start to think if they're looking at Milly Dowler's phone they could be looking at people who were involved in 7/7. I know the kind of media pressure that was around making stories about 7/7 and the difficulties of getting hold of relatives of people who were classed as missing at that point. The girl in the photo, Davinia Turrell, because she wasn't talking to the press, they tried to get at her through me."

 

He said he thought the revelation that families' phones could have been hacked would be distressing to those involved. "I wouldn't say I'm worried as there weren't any emotional messages for me on my phone," he said.

 

He added that on the day of the terrorist attacks his phone had been off because his battery had run out, but he had had between 30 and 40 voice messages stored on his phone which could have been accessed by the press. He said the thought of someone listening to his messages had left him "a little paranoid."

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-14043959

NOTW will be a very thin pagination on the shelves soon!

 

Maybe it will end up being renamed "News of the Hamlet"....................... :lol:

Poor Rupert Murdoch HAHA

I started reading the newspaper every day (a proper one :P) when I was about 9 or 10. 20 years later and I'm pretty jaded when it comes to messed up stories about how wrong the world is.

 

But there are few stories that have made me quite as sick to my stomach as this one. Murdering psychopaths I can understand to a point. They're on every crime show on tv every night and they've always been around. But what kind of monster would potentially endanger a girl's life for a story like that? What kind of sicko would potentially keep the cops from finding her for something as petty as a couple of quotes in a tabloid? :sick: I'm,...I... I don't understand. A murderer is often wrong in the head to begin with. That kind of writer has to willingly set aside their humanity to do that sort of thing. In a way the latter is worse.

 

And what really scares me is the people who say oh, it's just a tabloid, what do you expect. Really? Have the UK tabloids gotten that bad that you're that complacent? No wonder they can keep going. I hope they have to shut it down. I hope the advertisers treat it as a pariah for the rest of existence. I hope you all learn that something can be done about the bloodsuckers that cross the line.

 

And is it awful to say that I really hope the people who are directly responsible for all of this get the book thrown at them so they rot in jail?

 

 

Poor Rupert Murdoch HAHA

Well at least if he gets a black eye from all this crap, something good will have come from it.

News of the World to close amid hacking scandal

 

 

News of the World to close amid hacking scandal

 

This Sunday's issue of the News of the World will be the last edition of the paper, News International chairman James Murdoch has said.

 

In the past few days, claims have been made that the paper authorised hacking into the mobile phones of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and the families of 7/7 bombing victims. Mr Murdoch said proceeds from the last edition would go to good causes. Downing Street said it had no role or involvement in the decision.

 

In a statement made to staff, Mr Murdoch said the good things the News of the World does "have been sullied by behaviour that was wrong - indeed, if recent allegations are true, it was inhuman and has no place in our company. The News of the World is in the business of holding others to account. But it failed when it came to itself."

 

He went on: "In 2006, the police focused their investigations on two men. Both went to jail. But the News of the World and News International failed to get to the bottom of repeated wrongdoing that occurred without conscience or legitimate purpose. Wrongdoers turned a good newsroom bad and this was not fully understood or adequately pursued. As a result, the News of the World and News International wrongly maintained that these issues were confined to one reporter. We now have voluntarily given evidence to the police that I believe will prove that this was untrue and those who acted wrongly will have to face the consequences. This was not the only fault. The paper made statements to Parliament without being in the full possession of the facts. This was wrong. The company paid out-of-court settlements approved by me. I now know that I did not have a complete picture when I did so. This was wrong and is a matter of serious regret."

 

He reiterated that the company was fully co-operating with the two ongoing police investigations. Labour MP Tom Watson told Sky News it was "a victory for decent people up and down the land, and I say good riddance to the News of the World".

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14070733

Where are all those WAGs and Z-list celebs going to get their exposure now?:stunned:

It's gone! No more sleazy headlines and criminal activity to be subjected to. Now let's hope The Sun goes the same way

good news...

It's gone! No more sleazy headlines and criminal activity to be subjected to. Now let's hope The Sun goes the same way

 

Yes - maybe The Sun will "set" for good!:lol:

Meanwhile, the News of the Screws is well and truly............................ screwed.:rolleyes:

YouTube - ‪Cameron: 'Dowler hacking claims are dreadful'‬‏[/url]

 

That's all very well but how about he tells that to his good friend Rebekah Brooks and tells her where to go?!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtk3yLVUOKg]YouTube - ‪News Of The World: Der Untergang (slightly NSFW)‬‏[/ame]

 

Andy Coulsen could be one of the individuals arrested. This is going to bite Cameron in the arse big time. Increasingly looking more and more like the 'heir to Blair'.

Where are all those WAGs and Z-list celebs going to get their exposure now?:stunned:

 

In the brand new Sun on Sunday launching soon!

I'm just going to put this here:

 

Between 2008 and 2009, the number of wiretaps authorized by US state and federal judges rose 26 percent. No wiretap requests were refused. In 2009, there were 2,379 criminal wiretaps authorized, the vast majority of which were for mobile phones in drug cases. Each authorized wiretap captured communications of an average of 133 individuals; just 19 percent of the communications captured were incriminating. Each tap lasted an average of 42 days.

Police raid house of Cameron's ex-aide and former News of the World editor Andy Coulson after he and former royal editor are arrested

 

 

• Police search Daily Star offices in Central London, Sky reports
  
• Ex-News of the World editor was given a DNA swab
  
• David Cameron says Coulson is still a friend
  
• Clive Goodman arrested for a second time
  

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

 

Last updated at 4:04 PM on 8th July 2011

 

 

 

Former News of the World editor and Downing Street spin chief Andy Coulson and one of his former top reporters were held by police in a dramatic double arrest today over alleged corruption.

 

Mr Coulson, 43, is also being questioned over phone hacking during his time at the paper.

In a seperate development, police are searching the offices of the Daily Star in London, Sky News has reported.

 

Mr Coulson had been widely expected to face police action today but few had predicted the decision to rearrest the paper's former royal reporter Clive Goodman, who was jailed in 2007 over the scandal.

 

Police officers carrying bags leave Andy Coulson's house in South London today after David Cameron's former director of communications was arrested

 

 

 

 

 

 

Close relationship: David Cameron appointed Andy Coulson as his communications chiefs in 2007, but faced questions over his judgment in employing him as Coulson was arrested

 

Mr Goodman - who currently works for the Daily Star Sunday - was held after a dawn swoop by officers at his home in Surrey.

Detectives are searching both Mr Coulson's address in Forest Hill, south London, and Mr Goodman's property.

Officers investigating Operation Elveden - the inquiry into payments to police by the News of the World - and Operation Weeting, the long-running hacking investigation, are questioning the pair.

Re-arrested: Former News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman, has been held by police again

 

Referring to Goodman's arrest, a Scotland Yard statement said: 'At 6.11am officers from the MPS' Operation Weeting together with officers from Operation Elveden arrested a man on suspicion of corruption allegations in contravention of Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906.

'The man, aged 53, was arrested at a residential address in Surrey. A search is ongoing at this address.'

Mr Goodman was arrested in August 2006 along with private investigator Glenn Mulcaire over allegations that they hacked into the mobile phones of members of the royal household.

Five months later the royal reporter was jailed for four months and Mulcaire for six months after they admitted intercepting voicemail messages, including some left by Prince William, now the Duke of Cambridge.

The Old Bailey heard the pair tapped into more than 600 messages on the phones of royal family aides.

Mr Coulson responded by resigning as News of the World editor, saying he 'deeply regretted' what happened and took 'ultimate responsibility' for it.

Supporters of Mr Coulson, claimed his arrest showed he has been 'hung out to dry' by News International bosses, including Rebekah Brooks, who is fighting desperately to keep her job.

They believe that if he co-operates with police, he could make damaging claims about Mrs Brooks, who edited the News of the World before him, which in turn could result in her being questioned.

One source linked to the police investigation said: 'If Andy Coulson goes down, he could take some very senior people with him. He must know where the bodies are buried at News International.'

The arrest is hugely embarrassing to David Cameron, who employed him as his director of communications until January, when he was forced to step down over the phone hacking scandal.

 

Of their contact since Mr Coulson's January resignation, Mr Cameron said today: 'I have spoken to him, I have seen him, not recently and not frequently, but when you work with someone for four years as I did, and you work closely, you do build a friendship and I became friends with him.

He added: 'He became a friend and is a friend.'

 

 

Cameron also promised action to 'get to the bottom' of the phone hacking scandal, which involves the press, police and politicians.

David Cameron faced a barrage of questions about his relationship with Coulson at a press conference

 

Accepting some of the blame, Mr Cameron said party leaders 'were so keen to win the support of newspapers we turned a blind eye to the need to sort this issue.'

Mr Cameron spoke out as as shockwaves from the scandal, which forced the closure of the 168-year-old News of the World last night, continued to reverberate.

If embattled News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks was looking for support today from Mr Cameron it was not forthcoming.

Instead he intensified pressure on Mrs Brooks who was editor of the News of the World editor at the time of Milly Dowler's phone being hacked. Referring to reports that she had offered her resignation, he said: 'In this situation I would have taken it.'

It is believed Mr Coulson or his lawyer was contacted by detectives yesterday and asked to present himself at a police station.

ANDY COULSON: AN ESSEX BOY DONE GOOD... AND BAD

 

 

Former tabloid editor Andy Coulson has been dogged by allegations of phone hacking on his watch.

 

He has given up two top jobs because of the continuing scandal - his position as News of the World editor and then as the Conservatives' top spin doctor.

 

The Essex-boy-done-good worked his way up through the ranks at the Sunday tabloid via The Sun.

 

But his glittering career was left in tatters when then royal editor Clive Goodman was jailed after pleading guilty to illegally intercepting phone messages from Clarence House.

 

Mr Coulson said he had 'ultimate responsibility' for the scandal and apologised 'unreservedly' to Princes William and Harry. He resigned his editorship in January 2007.

 

Months later, in May that year, Mr Coulson was announced as director of communications and planning with the Conservative Party.

 

He gave the party a unique perspective. In a team dominated by public school and Oxbridge graduates, Mr Coulson attended a state comprehensive and worked for a local paper - the Basildon Evening Echo - instead of going to university.

 

After turning gamekeeper, Mr Coulson was credited with sharpening the Tories' message at a time when Mr Cameron was still seeking to establish himself as a credible alternative prime minister.

 

But the phone hacking scandal continued to rumble on in the background and took on a new significance when, after last year's general election, Mr Coulson became one of the most important figures in Number 10.

 

The scandal re-erupted with fresh claims about the extent of the phone hacking scandal, and the issue would not go away.

 

Mr Coulson could never shake off the explosive allegations against him from his time as editor of the News of the World.

 

He has denied any knowledge of phone hacking by journalists during his time at the newspaper, but this was not enough to save his job.

 

When he resigned in January this year, he said: 'When the spokesman needs a spokesman it's time to move on.'

 

 

A Scotland Yard statement said: 'The MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) has this morning arrested a member of the public in connection with allegations of corruption and phone hacking.

'The man, aged 43, was arrested by appointment at a south London police station. He is currently in custody.'

After arriving by appointment at the station at 10.30am, he was held on suspicion of 'conspiring to intercept communications' and 'corruption allegations contrary to Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906'.

Plain-clothed officers carrying evidence bags arrived at Mr Coulson's detached home later.

One shouted 'no comment' to reporters before informing them 'nobody crosses this line' as he walked across the driveway.

The officers entered the property on the leafy residential street after a woman wearing a dark suit answered the door.

As part of the arrest, Mr Coulson - who until six months ago was privy to Government secrets and rubbed shoulders with world leaders - suffered the indignity of posing for a police mugshot, providing a DNA sample and being finger-printed.

If charged and convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence. Intercepting voicemail carries a maximum two-year sentence.

Bribing police officers - which is covered by the offence of 'aiding and abetting misconduct in public office' - theoretically carries a maximum life sentence.

However, those convicted of the offence normally receive jail terms of between three and five years.

The fact he was editor, with considerable power, could be seen as 'an aggravating feature', which could lead to a tougher sentence.

 

David Cameron faced a barrage of questions about his relationship with Coulson at a press conference.

Other former News of the World reporters and executives are in line to be detained in the coming weeks. Legal sources expect that eventually at least seven serving or former staff will be charged.

Three are currently on police bail pending further inquiries by detectives.

And if News International thought that the boycott by advertisers would be ended by scrapping the NotW, they may prove to be wrong.

 

Car manufacturer Renault has today become the first company to extend its bar on advertising to all of the company's title.

A Renault statement said: 'As a result of the seriousness of the continued allegations of phone hacking by News of the World, Renault is reviewing its media advertising plans, pending the formal investigations.

'We currently have no advertising planned in any News International press titles in the immediate future.'

According to ad consultants Brand Republic, Renault spent £343,829 with the NotW in the last recorded year.

Prior to the plug being pulled on the paper, a flood of major advertisers began withdrawing their custom from the News of the World specifically.

 

If Renault's boycott proves the be the first of many, it could have serious repercussions for its other title such as The Sun,The Times and the Sunday Times.

 

Yesterday it was revealed the police watchdog is investigating claims that corrupt Scotland Yard officers received substantial cash bribes from News of the World journalists. It is claimed that officers received more than £100,000 in unlawful payments.

The payments - allegedly authorised by Mr Coulson - are said to have been made to officers in key positions in return for confidential information.

The payments were discovered after News International trawled internal emails earlier this year in an effort to discover the extent of the paper's involvement in hacking.

It handed details of the payments to Scotland Yard last month.

But yesterday the Met said it had handed over the documents to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which will now oversee the anti-corruption probe.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers said: 'We recognised the gravity of this case and involved the IPCC at the first opportunity. I strongly believe in and welcome independent oversight, especially in a case such as this, where public confidence in the police is seriously at risk.'

Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson, asked how he felt about officers suspected of taking money, told Sky News: 'I am more than ashamed – I am determined to see them in a criminal court.'

Deborah Glass of the IPCC, said public confidence had been rocked.

All the emails are believed to relate to the period after Mr Coulson became editor in January 2003.

He resigned in 2007 after the paper's royal editor Clive Goodman and private detective Glenn Mulcaire were jailed for phone hacking.

CLIVE GOODMAN: A MAN USED TO BEING FRONT PAGE NEWS

 

Clive Goodman enjoyed a long career of royal scoops at the News of the World.

He was even said to hold the best-selling Sunday paper's record for the highest number of consecutive front-page leads.

But his career was brought to a halt when he was was jailed for four months in 2007 for plotting to hack into Royal aides' telephone messages.

 

The NotW's former royal editor Clive Goodman (left) was said to hold the record for most front pages at the paper

 

Judge Mr Justice Gross, sitting at the Old Bailey, told him: 'This was low conduct, reprehensible in the extreme.'

His conviction prompted the paper's then-editor Andy Coulson to resign.

Known for his pin-striped suits and slicked-back hair, the former royal editor earned himself the nickname the 'Eternal' or 'Olympic Flame', because he rarely went out.

He preferred to stay in the office, and was not normally spotted at royal engagements, relying instead on his contacts book and, as he admitted in court, on 'other methods'.

Goodman, 53, is said to have been at home, chatting to Diana, Princess of Wales, on her mobile, when she told him about her night-time mercy visits to hospitals.

The paper had been staking her out in the hope of catching her with another man.

He earned accolades for his work. In 2002, he was named Royal Editor of the Year in The Real Press Awards.

That year he produced the exclusive 'Harry's Drugs Shame', when the Prince of Wales's younger son was revealed to have smoked cannabis.

Goodman took over the News of the World's Blackadder column from ex-royal spin-doctor Mark Bolland.

Writing about characters in the royal press pack, Bolland once declared of Goodman: 'A dangerous man, is all I can say.'

Last year News International admitted to MPs that it made a payoff to Goodman after he threatened to go to an employment tribunal for unfair dismissal.

He was sacked after his conviction, but the company failed to follow statutory procedures. He now works as a freelance reporter.

 

 

 

Police raid house of Cameron's ex-aide and former News of the World editor Andy Coulson after he and former royal editor are arrested

 

 

• Police search Daily Star offices in Central London, Sky reports
  
• Ex-News of the World editor was given a DNA swab
  
• David Cameron says Coulson is still a friend
  
• Clive Goodman arrested for a second time
  

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

 

Last updated at 4:04 PM on 8th July 2011

 

 

 

Former News of the World editor and Downing Street spin chief Andy Coulson and one of his former top reporters were held by police in a dramatic double arrest today over alleged corruption.

 

Mr Coulson, 43, is also being questioned over phone hacking during his time at the paper.

In a seperate development, police are searching the offices of the Daily Star in London, Sky News has reported.

 

Mr Coulson had been widely expected to face police action today but few had predicted the decision to rearrest the paper's former royal reporter Clive Goodman, who was jailed in 2007 over the scandal.

 

Police officers carrying bags leave Andy Coulson's house in South London today after David Cameron's former director of communications was arrested

 

 

 

 

 

 

Close relationship: David Cameron appointed Andy Coulson as his communications chiefs in 2007, but faced questions over his judgment in employing him as Coulson was arrested

 

Mr Goodman - who currently works for the Daily Star Sunday - was held after a dawn swoop by officers at his home in Surrey.

Detectives are searching both Mr Coulson's address in Forest Hill, south London, and Mr Goodman's property.

Officers investigating Operation Elveden - the inquiry into payments to police by the News of the World - and Operation Weeting, the long-running hacking investigation, are questioning the pair.

Re-arrested: Former News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman, has been held by police again

 

Referring to Goodman's arrest, a Scotland Yard statement said: 'At 6.11am officers from the MPS' Operation Weeting together with officers from Operation Elveden arrested a man on suspicion of corruption allegations in contravention of Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906.

'The man, aged 53, was arrested at a residential address in Surrey. A search is ongoing at this address.'

Mr Goodman was arrested in August 2006 along with private investigator Glenn Mulcaire over allegations that they hacked into the mobile phones of members of the royal household.

Five months later the royal reporter was jailed for four months and Mulcaire for six months after they admitted intercepting voicemail messages, including some left by Prince William, now the Duke of Cambridge.

The Old Bailey heard the pair tapped into more than 600 messages on the phones of royal family aides.

Mr Coulson responded by resigning as News of the World editor, saying he 'deeply regretted' what happened and took 'ultimate responsibility' for it.

Supporters of Mr Coulson, claimed his arrest showed he has been 'hung out to dry' by News International bosses, including Rebekah Brooks, who is fighting desperately to keep her job.

They believe that if he co-operates with police, he could make damaging claims about Mrs Brooks, who edited the News of the World before him, which in turn could result in her being questioned.

One source linked to the police investigation said: 'If Andy Coulson goes down, he could take some very senior people with him. He must know where the bodies are buried at News International.'

The arrest is hugely embarrassing to David Cameron, who employed him as his director of communications until January, when he was forced to step down over the phone hacking scandal.

 

Of their contact since Mr Coulson's January resignation, Mr Cameron said today: 'I have spoken to him, I have seen him, not recently and not frequently, but when you work with someone for four years as I did, and you work closely, you do build a friendship and I became friends with him.

He added: 'He became a friend and is a friend.'

 

Cameron also promised action to 'get to the bottom' of the phone hacking scandal, which involves the press, police and politicians.

David Cameron faced a barrage of questions about his relationship with Coulson at a press conference

 

Accepting some of the blame, Mr Cameron said party leaders 'were so keen to win the support of newspapers we turned a blind eye to the need to sort this issue.'

Mr Cameron spoke out as as shockwaves from the scandal, which forced the closure of the 168-year-old News of the World last night, continued to reverberate.

If embattled News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks was looking for support today from Mr Cameron it was not forthcoming.

Instead he intensified pressure on Mrs Brooks who was editor of the News of the World editor at the time of Milly Dowler's phone being hacked. Referring to reports that she had offered her resignation, he said: 'In this situation I would have taken it.'

It is believed Mr Coulson or his lawyer was contacted by detectives yesterday and asked to present himself at a police station.

 

A Scotland Yard statement said: 'The MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) has this morning arrested a member of the public in connection with allegations of corruption and phone hacking.

'The man, aged 43, was arrested by appointment at a south London police station. He is currently in custody.'

After arriving by appointment at the station at 10.30am, he was held on suspicion of 'conspiring to intercept communications' and 'corruption allegations contrary to Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906'.

Plain-clothed officers carrying evidence bags arrived at Mr Coulson's detached home later.

One shouted 'no comment' to reporters before informing them 'nobody crosses this line' as he walked across the driveway.

The officers entered the property on the leafy residential street after a woman wearing a dark suit answered the door.

As part of the arrest, Mr Coulson - who until six months ago was privy to Government secrets and rubbed shoulders with world leaders - suffered the indignity of posing for a police mugshot, providing a DNA sample and being finger-printed.

If charged and convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence. Intercepting voicemail carries a maximum two-year sentence.

Bribing police officers - which is covered by the offence of 'aiding and abetting misconduct in public office' - theoretically carries a maximum life sentence.

However, those convicted of the offence normally receive jail terms of between three and five years.

The fact he was editor, with considerable power, could be seen as 'an aggravating feature', which could lead to a tougher sentence.

 

David Cameron faced a barrage of questions about his relationship with Coulson at a press conference.

Other former News of the World reporters and executives are in line to be detained in the coming weeks. Legal sources expect that eventually at least seven serving or former staff will be charged.

Three are currently on police bail pending further inquiries by detectives.

And if News International thought that the boycott by advertisers would be ended by scrapping the NotW, they may prove to be wrong.

 

Car manufacturer Renault has today become the first company to extend its bar on advertising to all of the company's title.

A Renault statement said: 'As a result of the seriousness of the continued allegations of phone hacking by News of the World, Renault is reviewing its media advertising plans, pending the formal investigations.

'We currently have no advertising planned in any News International press titles in the immediate future.'

According to ad consultants Brand Republic, Renault spent £343,829 with the NotW in the last recorded year.

Prior to the plug being pulled on the paper, a flood of major advertisers began withdrawing their custom from the News of the World specifically.

 

If Renault's boycott proves the be the first of many, it could have serious repercussions for its other title such as The Sun,The Times and the Sunday Times.

 

Yesterday it was revealed the police watchdog is investigating claims that corrupt Scotland Yard officers received substantial cash bribes from News of the World journalists. It is claimed that officers received more than £100,000 in unlawful payments.

The payments - allegedly authorised by Mr Coulson - are said to have been made to officers in key positions in return for confidential information.

The payments were discovered after News International trawled internal emails earlier this year in an effort to discover the extent of the paper's involvement in hacking.

It handed details of the payments to Scotland Yard last month.

But yesterday the Met said it had handed over the documents to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which will now oversee the anti-corruption probe.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers said: 'We recognised the gravity of this case and involved the IPCC at the first opportunity. I strongly believe in and welcome independent oversight, especially in a case such as this, where public confidence in the police is seriously at risk.'

Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson, asked how he felt about officers suspected of taking money, told Sky News: 'I am more than ashamed – I am determined to see them in a criminal court.'

Deborah Glass of the IPCC, said public confidence had been rocked.

All the emails are believed to relate to the period after Mr Coulson became editor in January 2003.

He resigned in 2007 after the paper's royal editor Clive Goodman and private detective Glenn Mulcaire were jailed for phone hacking.

 

 

 

Mark, when you post updates can you just post the new bits and not the full history of the article ;)

News International journalists 'hacked medical records of Gordon Brown's family' - The Sun and Sunday Times in firing line

 

Mr Brown was targeted during a period of more than 10 years, both as chancellor of the exchequer and as prime minister, the paper added.

During that time the medical records of his son, Fraser, who has cystic fibrosis were allegedly obtained by The Sun.

An investigation by the also Guardian found that a private investigator used a serving police officer to search the police national computer for information about the former Labour leader.

It was also claimed that Mr Brown's tax paperwork was taken from his accountant's office, apparently by hacking into the firm's computer. The information was then passed to another newspaper.

The paper alleged that Scotland Yard has discovered references to both mr Brown and his wife, Sarah, in paperwork seized from Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator who specialised in phone hacking for the News of the World.

 

The paper also claimed that the Abbey National bank found evidence that a "blagger" acting for the Sunday Times on six occasions posed as Mr Brown and gained details from his account, the Mr Brown's London lawyers, Allen & Overy, were tricked into handing over details from his file by a conman working for the Sunday Times, and that details from his infant son's medical records were obtained by the Sun, who published a story about the child's serious illness.

Mr Brown becomes the latest Labour MP believed to have been phone hacked, following claims by John Prescott and Chris Bryant that they had been targeted.

Scotland Yard is believed to have recently written to Mr Brown and his wife to tell them that extensive details of the couple had been found in evidence collected by Operation Weeting - the investigation into phone hacking at the News of the World.

It is understood that the evidence was found in hadnwritten notes kept by Mulcaire, which were seized in August 2006 but never properly studied.

 

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/phone-hacking/8630573/News-International-journalists-hacked-medical-records-of-Gordon-Browns-family.html