Phone-hacking claims to be probed (From Congleton Guardian)

Phone-hacking claims to be probed

7:00pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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Prosecutors are to look again at claims of alleged phone hacking by the News of the World.

Keir Starmer QC, the director of public prosecutions, said he had ordered an "urgent examination" of material provided by the police three years ago.

The announcement came as police said they would not be mounting a new investigation into claims thousands of public figures had their phones hacked.

Mr Starmer said he wanted to reassure himself and the public that "appropriate actions" were taken over the material.

He said he expected to make a further statement on the allegations in "coming days". He added: "I have no reason to consider that there was anything inappropriate in the prosecutions that were undertaken in this case.

"In the light of the fresh allegations that have been made, some preliminary inquiries have been undertaken and I have now ordered an urgent examination of the material that was supplied to the CPS by the police three years ago. I am taking this action to satisfy myself and assure the public that the appropriate actions were taken in relation to that material."

Earlier, Scotland Yard ruled out a fresh probe into the allegations, after new claims were made in The Guardian newspaper.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner John Yates said police had seen no additional evidence since its last investigation, which ended with the jailing of News of the World royal reporter Clive Goodman in 2007.

Mr Yates also said detectives had found no evidence that former deputy prime minister John Prescott's phone was tapped.

But he said police would now inform any potential victims that their phone may have been hacked where there was any suspicion.

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