Met Police To Re-Open Phone Hacking Inquiry

The Metropolitan Police is to examine new evidence regarding claims of phone-hacking by News of the World journalists.

The new move follows claims by former News of the World reporter Sean Hoare that he had been told by the paper's former editor Andy Coulson - now Communications Director for Downing Street - to intercept phone messages.

Former journalists also told the New York Times that the practice of hacking into phones was far more extensive than had been previously acknowledged.

Assistant Police Commissioner John Yates said that the Metropolitan Police had asked the New York Times to provide additional material for their investigation. He told reporters: "We have sought additional material from them (the New York Times) and will consider this material, along with Sean Hoare's recent BBC radio interview, and will consult the Crown Prosecution Service on how best to progress it."

On Monday, Mr Coulson confirmed that he would be happy to meet the Metropolitan Police to discuss the allegations.

In 2007, the News of the World's royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire were jailed for intercepting phones messages, but a Commons Culture Committee found no evidence that Mr Coulson approved the phone-hacking or was even aware of its existence.

Mr Coulson has firmly denied using or condoning the practice while he was editor of the paper. He resigned from his post during the original investigation into illegal phone tapping.

Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has claimed that his phone was hacked, as has former Labour Minister Tessa Jowell.

Mr Prescott has also threatened to take legal action to force the police to release any documents relating to him that were seized during the original investigation.

All five Labour leadership candidates have also called for a fresh inquiry into the claims.

(KMcA/GK)