- Former News of the World features writer Dan Evans also arrested today over alleged phone hacking
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- Private detective Glen Mulcaire made subject of High Court order forcing him to name his handlers
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19th August 2011
A 51-year-old Scotland Yard detective has been arrested over leaks during the phone hacking investigation, the force said today.
The officer, a detective constable reportedly working on Operation Weeting, allegedly passed information about the probe to the Guardian newspaper in the latest twist in the phone hacking scandal.
The newspaper has had a series of exclusive stories in recent weeks relating to the investigation of former News of the World staff.
Arrested: The 51-year-old officer was reportedly a member of the Scotland Yard team investigating phone hacking at the News of the World
The officer was arrested at his desk by anti-corruption officers and was later suspended from his job, it was reported.
He was questioned by fellow Metropolitan Police officers and bailed to return at a later date.
The police chief leading the major investigation into criminal activities at the News of the World expressed her annoyance over the officer's alleged 'unauthorised disclosure'.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers, in charge of Operation Weeting, said: 'I made very clear when I took on this investigation the need for operational and information security. It is hugely disappointing that this may not have been adhered to.
Frustration: Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers said she was disappointed her instruction for operational security appeared to have not been adhered to
'The MPS takes the unauthorised disclosure of information extremely seriously and has acted swiftly in making these arrests.'
A spokesperson for Guardian News & Media, which publishes the Guardian, said: 'We note the arrest of a Scotland Yard detective on suspicion of misconduct in a public office relating to unauthorised disclosure of information.
'On the broader point raised by the arrest, journalists would no doubt be concerned if conversations between off-the-record sources and reporters came routinely to be regarded as criminal activity. In common with all news organisations we have no comment to make on the sources of our journalism.'
Feature writer Dan Evans, 35, was also held for questioning on suspicion of conspiring to unlawfully intercept voicemails, sources said.
The journalist, who was arrested by appointment at a London police station, was suspended by the axed Sunday tabloid after interior designer Kelly Hoppen, who is stepmother to actress Sienna Miller, brought a damages claim alleging that he tried to hack into her voicemails in June 2009.
The former paper and lawyers for the journalist have said an extensive investigation found no evidence to support Ms Hoppen's claims.
It is thought that Scotland Yard arrested the writer over separate phone hacking allegations.
Mr Evans, who joined the News of the World in 2005 and has been suspended since April 2010, is the 14th arrest of the fresh phone hacking investigation.
Like his colleagues, he is currently part way through a 90-day consultation period after the paper was closed on July 10 amid growing political and financial pressure over the hacking scandal.
Allegations: Dan Evans was suspended over claims made by Kelly Hoppen
A News International spokeswoman said: 'We are fully co-operating with the police investigation and we are unable to comment further on matters due to ongoing police investigations.'
His arrest brings the total number of people arrested in connection with phone hacking to 14.
It followed the arrest yesterday of award-winning journalist James Desborough who was the paper's U.S. editor.
The questioning of an America-based journalist raises fresh questions about whether the news of the World was involved in hacking phones in America.
The FBI are probing claims that 9/11 victims may have had their phone's hacked by journalists working for News Corp - the parent company of the News of the World.
The phone hacking is not alleged to have occurred while the reporter was in the U.S.
Desborough, 38, met police at 10.30am yesterday morning for a pre-arranged appointment and was arrested.
In another development today, the private detective jailed for illegally hacking phones on behalf of News of the World has been ordered by the High Court to reveal who asked him to carry out the interceptions.
Glenn Mulcaire was jailed in 2007 along with the paper's ex-royal correspondent Clive Goodman for illegally accessing the voicemails of royal aides and five other figures including the model Elle Macpherson.
Lawyers for actor Steve Coogan, who believes he is a victim of phone-hacking and is suing News International, said the court had refused Mulcaire leave to appeal against a decision ordering him to reveal who instructed him to hack the phones.
High Court: Glen Mulcaire will be forced to give up the names of those at the News of the World who asked him to hack phones as a result of legal action by lawyers representing Steve Coogan, right
John Kelly of law firm Schillings said that Mulcaire would have to answer their questions in a formal document to be filed at the court before September. This should be available for the public to see.
'He will now have to identify exactly who at the News of the World asked him to access the mobile phones of the named individuals and who he provided the information to at the News of the World,' Kelly said.
'Mr Mulcaire is due to provide these answers by the end of the month and we await his answers with interest.'
After Mulcaire and Goodman's conviction in 2007, News International repeatedly insisted that phone-hacking was limited to a single rogue reporter.
But in the face of civil action from Coogan and other figures, the company admitted earlier this year it had evidence that the practice was more widespread, prompting the new police inquiry.
Yesterday, News International confirmed it was being sued by Mulcaire for ceasing to pay his legal fees in July after James Murdoch told a parliamentary committee he was surprised the company was still footing the bill.
Explore more:
- People:
- Dan Evans,
- James Murdoch,
- Elle Macpherson,
- Clive Goodman,
- Steve Coogan,
- Kelly Hoppen,
- Sienna Miller
- Places:
- America
- Organisations:
- Scotland Yard,
- Federal Bureau of Investigation,
- London Police
Detective Arrested For 'Leaking Hacking Info'
7:27pm UK, Friday August 19, 2011
A Scotland Yard detective has been arrested for allegedly leaking information about the hacking inquiry to The Guardian.
He has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office relating to the "unauthorised disclosure of information", Scotland Yard said.
The 51-year-old was arrested at work on Thursday afternoon and has been bailed until September 29 pending further inquiries.
He was suspended from his job on Friday.
Sky's crime correspondent Martin Brunt said he believed the detective had been working on the inquiry since January.
He was held overnight on suspicion of leaking details to The Guardian, which has had a series of scoops about the probe.
The detective has also been suspended from his job
The Met also announced that a 35-year-old was arrested by appointment on Friday as part of the hacking investigation.
It is understood he is feature writer Dan Evans, a suspended News of the World journalist.
He was held for questioning on suspicion of conspiring to unlawfully intercept voicemails before being bailed until October.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers, who is in charge of the hacking probe, said: "I made it very clear when I took on this investigation the need for operational and information security.
"It is hugely disappointing that this may not have been adhered to.
"The MPS takes the un-authorised disclosure of information extremely seriously and has acted swiftly in making these arrests."
Mr Evans was suspended in April 2010 after interior designer Kelly Hoppen, actress Sienna Miller's stepmother, brought a damages claim alleging he tried to hack into her voicemails.
The now-defunct Sunday tabloid and lawyers for the journalist have said an extensive investigation found no evidence to support Ms Hoppen's claims.
It is thought that Scotland Yard arrested the writer over separate phone hacking allegations.
Like his colleagues, Mr Evans is currently part way through a 90-day consultation period after the paper closed in July because of the scandal.
A News International spokesman said: "We are fully co-operating with the police investigation and we are unable to comment further on matters due to ongoing police investigations."
A Guardian spokesman said: "We note the arrest of a Scotland Yard detective on suspicion of misconduct in a public office relating to unauthorised disclosure of information.
"On the broader point raised by the arrest, journalists would no doubt be concerned if conversations between off-the-record sources and reporters came routinely to be regarded as criminal activity.
"In common with all news organisations we have no comment to make on the sources of our journalism."
Arrest over Guardian phone hacking leaks
A DETECTIVE has been arrested for allegedly leaking information about the phone hacking inquiry to The Guardian.
The 51-year-old Scotland Yard officer was quizzed on suspicion of supplying inside information about Operation Weeting to the newspaper.
He has also been suspended from the Met Police while investigations continue.
The Guardian has led the charge in reporting allegations of illegal voicemail interception at the axed News of the World.
Besides the officer a total of 14 people have been arrested over the scandal so far.
They include 35-year-old former features writer Dan Evans, who was arrested earlier today, and the paper's Hollywood reporter James Desborough, 38 — held yesterday.
The police chief leading the operation expressed her annoyance over the officer's alleged "unauthorised disclosure" surrounding the investigation.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers said: "I made very clear when I took on this investigation the need for operational and information security. It is hugely disappointing that this may not have been adhered to.
"The MPS takes the unauthorised disclosure of information extremely seriously and has acted swiftly in making these arrests."
The detective constable was arrested at work yesterday afternoon before being bailed to return on September 29.
Scotland Yard's Operation Weeting is looking into phone hacking claims, while Operation Elveden is probing payments to police officers.
Meanwhile, a Guardian spokesman said: "We note the arrest of a Scotland Yard detective on suspicion of misconduct in a public office relating to unauthorised disclosure of information.
"On the broader point raised by the arrest, journalists would no doubt be concerned if conversations between off-the-record sources and reporters came routinely to be regarded as criminal activity.
"In common with all news organisations we have no comment to make on the sources of our journalism."
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