Phone hacking: Files on 11 suspects sent to prosecutors

THE director of public prosecutions has revealed that eleven suspects have been referred to prosecutors by Scotland Yard’s phone hacking squad.

The cases of four journalists, one police officer and six other individuals are being considered, director of public prosecutions Keir Starmer QC said today.

Offences under consideration include misconduct in a public office, data protection act breaches, perverting the course of justice, witness intimidation and breaches of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa).

Mr Starmer refused to give a timescale for a charging decision but said: “We are now entering a period where we are likely to make a decision one way or another.”