Doocey on Phone Hacking

• [Jul 19] Dee Doocey MLA* writes: THERE are four key questions that need to be answered:-

1. Were the Metropolitan Police's investigations into phone hacking limited in scope or improperly influenced in any way by the relationships between senior Met officers and News International?

On 12 July, John Yates told the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee that part of the reason why the police inquiry into phone hacking allegations had been limited was due to a lack of co- operation from News International. Since when are investigations halted due to lack of co- operation by a defendant?

2. Why did both Andy Hayman and John Yates meet News International for lunches and dinners when they were leading investigations into phone hacking by the News of the World? And was it wise for the Commissioner to do likewise at this time?

Andy Hayman told the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee that he had sought Dick Fedorcio's advice (Director of Public Affairs at the Metropolitan Police) before dining with News International while the section he was in charge of was investigating the News of the World. Dick Fedorcio denies this. Who is telling the truth?

3. Why was Neil Wallis hired?

Wallis, trading as 'Chamy Media', was hired by the Met from October 2009 to September 2010. He was previously Deputy Editor of the News of the World. So why did Sir Paul Stephenson fail to tell either the special session of the Metropolitan Police Authority (Strategic and Operational Policing Committee 14 July 2011), or the prime minister (at his meeting on 12 July to discuss the inquiry) about the hiring of Wallis?

4. Did any Metropolitan Police officers (of any rank) accept money from News International in return for information or any other favours?

During a March 2003 appearance before the House of Commons Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport (as part of an inquiry into privacy issues), Rebekah Brooks stated that the newspaper she then edited (the Sun) had paid police officers for information. Was this admission investigated by the Met and with what consequences? If not, why not?

Questions 1-3 will be investigated by Lord Justice Brian Leveson's inquiry. Question 4 is being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). But there is now a case for this IPCC inquiry to be taken out of the Met's hands completely.

The Metropolitan Police Authority should not pre-empt these inquiries. Following both enquiries there should then be an evidential basis for taking action as appropriate.

The key concern is the safety and security of the UK in the run up to and during the Olympics. The huge upheaval brought by the Commissioner's resignation, and John Yates's resignation (the lead for counter-terrorism in the UK) do nothing to help this.

There is no evidence to suggest that the Commissioner is corrupt. But he has presided over a Met culture that routinely courted the Murdoch press - but is this any different to how many senior politicians behaved? Sir Paul Stephenson has done good work since he took over from Sir Ian Blair, not least turning the senior team into a cohesive team. His remarks at meetings of the Metropolitan Police Authority over the past year have made it clear that he has zero tolerance for any form of corruption, and he is on record as saying that if the allegations about police officers accepting money are proved to be true he is "determined to see them in a criminal court".

The key question to be answered therefore is not whether there was a close relationship between the Met police and News International (since we know there was), but whether that relationship led to improper behaviour on the part of the Met.

• Where do we go from here?

We must re-establish public trust in the Met. The emphasis should be on rooting out the rotten apples, stabilising the Met in advance of the Olympics - and establishing a sound practice for the future. We must also:-

• Act on the recommendations of the Leveson Inquiry

• Ensure that the IPCC's investigations into police officers accepting money from journalists are followed up by appropriate disciplinary action and if necessary criminal prosecutions

• Make sure the Met institute a transparent system of reporting meetings between senior officers and the media

We welcome the temporary appointment of Cressida Dick as the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Special Operations: she has all of the relevant experience and is highly respected by all who have worked with her. We also welcome the Home Secretary's decision to draft in Bernard Hogan-Howe from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) as the temporary Deputy Commissioner. He is one of Britain's most highly regarded police officers, and a former Chief Constable of Merseyside.

* lead spokesperson on policing for the London Assembly Liberal Democrat Group.