Peter Mandelson and Jack Straw call in Scotland Yard over hacking scandal

Published on Friday 10 June 2011 17:05

Former home secretary Jack Straw and former Labour Cabinet colleague Lord Mandelson have contacted Scotland Yard after fresh allegations that private investigators committed breaches of privacy.

Scotland Yard officers are undertaking a "formal assessment" of the claims to determine whether a criminal investigation would be appropriate, said Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick.

Lord Mandelson said: "I have contacted the Met Police today to ask them what information they may hold from current or previous investigations."

He added: "It isn't acceptable to keep pointing the finger at one newspaper when clearly the use of unlawful means of investigating was, or is, widespread.

"This is a bigger issue than the wrongdoing of one rogue investigator and that's why this whole issue should be pursued more widely."

Mr Straw said: "I have written to the Metropolitan Police to ask exactly what evidence they have as this is the first I have heard of it."

The new investigation, thought to be codenamed Operation Tuleta, involves allegations relating to the interception of emails and hacking into computer files.

One alleged victim was a former undercover agent who infiltrated the IRA.

The formal assessment amounts to a widening of the existing investigation - codenamed Operation Weeting - into allegations of eavesdropping on mobile phone voicemail messages by staff at the News of the World.

The development came a day after the House of Commons heard claims that members of the Royal Family and former prime minister Tony Blair were targeted by private detective Jonathan Rees on behalf of the News of the World's publisher, News International.

In an open letter, Ms Dick said that the new allegations "sit outside the terms of reference for Operation Weeting" and were being "properly considered" by the Metropolitan Police Service.

"Officers from within the Specialist Crime Directorate have been conducting a formal assessment process of the considerable information in their possession, to assess whether the available evidence would support further criminal investigations.

"As in other cases, this ongoing process will, in due course, involve consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service and will result in a formal decision as to whether new criminal investigations will be commenced."

Former Conservative Cabinet minister David Mellor said he would be instructing solicitors, adding: "Scotland Yard have been extremely tardy investigating these allegations, perhaps because senior officers were more concerned with protecting their own relationships with News International rather than doing their duty."Labour's Tom Watson told MPs this week: "The convicted private investigator Jonathan Rees, a contractor to News International, targeted former prime minister Tony Blair for covert surveillance, and at least one former home secretary."

He also told David Cameron during Prime Minister's Questions that members of the Royal Family may have been subjected to hacking by Mr Rees as well.