Phone hack police should follow evidence ‘wherever it goes’, Cameron insists

By James Chapman
Last updated at 6:58 PM on 17th April 2011

David Cameron: The Prime Minister urged police to 'follow the evidence wherever it goes' as phone hacking by journalists appears 'widespread'

David Cameron today urged police and prosecutors to 'follow the evidence wherever it goes' as he said phone hacking by journalists appeared 'widespread'.

News International, Britain's biggest newspaper group, could face a second investigation by Scotland Yard in addition to the deepening inquiry into the tapping into voice messages of public figures.

The Metropolitan Police is actively considering launching an inquiry into whether News International journalists made illegal payments to officers.

The Prime Minister yesterday brushed off calls for a public inquiry into the affair, but said further prosecutions were clearly 'an option'.

'I'm not sure anyone fully knew how widespread it was,' Mr Cameron told Sky News's Murnaghan programme.

'Let me be clear: phone hacking is wrong, phone hacking is illegal and the police and the prosecuting authorities should follow the evidence wherever it goes without fear or favour.

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'That is what we have in this country, independent police, independent prosecutors, that is what should happen and the politicians shouldn't get involved.'

Asked about a public inquiry, Mr Cameron said: 'There is always a difficulty of holding inquiries when you have active police investigations ongoing.

News International: The biggest newspaper group in Britain could face a second investigation

'I think the most important thing is, as I have said, for the police, the prosecutors, to do their job, there is a whole range of civil actions as I understand also taking place, the politicians should stand back and let that happen.

'The law is perfectly clear, the law doesn't need I think to be changed. Phone hacking is illegal, quite rightly too, those who do it are wrong and prosecution is an option for the police.'
Rupert Murdoch's News International has expressed sincere regret about the hacking scandal, admitted failings in its previous internal inquiries and offered to compensate victims with 'justifiable cases'. Twenty-four public figures, including the comedian Steve Coogan and jockey Kieren Fallon, are suing the paper.

Clive Goodman, the former royal editor, and Glenn Mulcaire, a private detective contracted to work for the News of the World, were jailed in 2007 for phone hacking offences.

Hacked: Comedian Steve Coogan and jockey Kieren Fallon are among 24 public figures who are suing the paper

A government spokesman had previously suggested a public inquiry and tighter regulation of the press will be considered after criminal investigations into phone hacking allegations are complete.

Lord Wallace, a government whip, told the House of Lords that some journalists had behaved like bankers, breaking an understanding that they would have light-touch regulation in exchange for behaving responsibly.

He suggested that an independent inquiry into phone hacking, and the broader between politics and the press, would be necessary.

The Liberal Democrat peer also agreed that the Press Complaints Commission might have to become a statutory regulator.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1377844/Phone-hacking-police-follow-evidence-goes-says-David-Cameron.html#ixzz1JoUnrwCA