News of the World sack head of news as fresh hacking probe launched by police

Published on Wednesday 26 January 2011 16:03

The head of news at the News of the World has been sacked, with Scotland Yard launching a fresh investigation into claims of phone-tapping at the paper, it was announced today.

Ian Edmonson, who was suspended in December, has been removed from his position after an internal inquiry.

That inquiry came as a result of court documents which claimed Mr Edmonson instructed private investigator Glenn Mulcaire to access phone messages.

The Met confirmed earlier this afternoon that they are to open a new investigation into phone hacking at newspapers after recieving "significant new information" from the Sunday newspaper.

A News of the World spokeswoman said: "Material evidence found during the course of the subsequent investigation has led to Mr Edmondson's dismissal.

"News International has informed the police, handed over the material it has found and will give its full co-operation going forward.

"News International reiterates that it will take swift and decisive action when we have proof of wrongdoing."

The new material is linked to allegations about the activities of staff at the paper in 2005 and 2006, police said.

A review by senior prosecutors of existing evidence and the latest claims will continue as planned.

Sienna Miller, George Galloway and Gordon Brown have all been linked with phone-tapping, the trio alleged to be victims of the illegal practice.

A previous invesigation into the activity at the News of the World has been criticised with claims that not enough was done to explore how widespread the activity was.

The paper is facing a number of legal challenges over allegations of hacking, and a fresh investigation will now take place.

Senior officers at the Met said the complex inquiry was being moved from their counter terrorism command.

Acting Deputy Commissioner John Yates will not be in charge due to a heavy workload, the force said, and instead the investigation will be led by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers at the specialist crime directorate.

A Met spokesman said: "The Met has today received significant new information relating to allegations of phone hacking at the News of the World in 2005/06. As a result, the Met is launching a new investigation to consider this material.

"This work will be carried out by the specialist crime directorate which has been investigating a related phone hacking allegation since September 2010."

Last week, former News of the World editor Andy Coulson resigned as David Cameron's communications chief, though he has continually denied any knowledge of hacking during his time at the paper. Coulson was editor during period now under investigation by the Met.

Senior politicians from all partyies have called on police yto look into new allegations.

There has been criticism at the percieved reluctance of the police to pursue the case more vigorously.

Tony Blair's former communications chief Alastair Campbell has called the Met's actions as a "scandal".

Gordon Brown has also asked police to investigate whether his phone was hacked during his time in office.

Over the past week, there have been suggestions that other newspapers, including the Daily Mirror, could face legal action. Former MP Paul Marsden said yesterday that he has made legal inquiries about launching action against the paper.

Mark Lewis, who acted for Gordon Taylor of the Professional Footballers' Association in a damages claim against the News of the World, said he was representing four people who believe they were targeted by other newspapers.

Senior Labour MP Chris Bryant, who believes his mobile may been hacked, said: "It just goes to show that the Met never did a full or proper investigation in the first place and that they completely failed to follow every avenue of investigation.

"It is a scandal that it is only through the civil actions that people are bringing that the Met are being forced to act and we are beginning to see the full scale of what went on.

"It is right that Andy Coulson resigned last week. David Cameron should never have appointed him in the first place.

"But what is far more important is that the whole story is now exposed and the practice of illegal hacking is put to an end."