Phone hacking: Severe lessons learned, says QC

Published on 25/07/2012 00:51

A PUBLIC hearing into media standards, triggered by the hacking scandal, has heard lessons “too severe to be forgotten”, the last day of the Leveson inquiry heard.

Rhodri Davies, QC, representing News International, which published the former News of the World, said “a culture of clean-up” was now in place.

“These are lessons that are too severe to be forgotten and News International are determined not to have to learn them again,” he said yesterday.

Mr Davies cautioned Lord Justice Leveson against over-burdening the press with regulation.

“Whatever the regulatory
solution may be, lessons have been learned. It is a culture of clean-up that is now in place,” he said.

Jonathan Caplan QC, representing Associated Newspapers, which owns the Daily Mail, added: “My clients feel we have heard too few speaking up for the popular press. In order to produce public interest journalism you need to have journalism that interests the public.”