Rebekah Brooks Charged Over Phone-Hacking

Rebekah Brooks and husband, Charlie, are to be charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice over the phone hacking inquiry.

Three of Mrs Brooks's staff, and News International head of security Mark Hanna are also charged with the offence.

The charges relate to alleged offences in July last year including concealing documents and computers from police.

In a statement Brooks and her husband said: "We deplore this weak and unjust decision."

Revealing the charges ahead of a CPS announcement, the couple said: "We have this morning been informed by the Office of the Department of Public Prosecutions that we are to be charged with perverting the course of justice."

Adding: "After the further unprecedented posturing of the CPS we will respond later today after our return from the police station."

Announcing the decision to charge the six, director of public prosecutions legal adviser Alison Levitt, QC, said she was making a statement "in the interests of transparency and accountability".

Alongside Brooks and her husband, also facing charges are her personal assistant Cheryl Carter, chauffeur Paul Edwards, security man Daryl Jorsling, News International head of security Mr Hanna and "persons unknown"

All six are being charged with conspiring to "conceal material" from police between 6 and 19 July.

Brooks and Ms Carter face a second charge of conspiring to remove seven boxes of material from the News International archive between 6 and 9 July.

And in a third charge, Mr and Mrs Brooks, Mr Hanna, Mr Edwards and Mr Jorsling are accused of conspiring to conceal documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police officers between 15 and 19 July.

A statement from the CPS is expected later on Tuesday.

(H)