Scotland Yard rules out fresh probe into News of the World hacking

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Updated: 19:23 EST, 6 January 2011

Scotland Yard will not reopen its investigation into phone hacking by News of the World journalists, despite the suspension of a senior executive.

The inquiry, which has dogged David Cameron’s communications chief Andy Coulson, was dropped in December for lack of evidence.

But it has emerged that the tabloid’s assistant editor Ian Edmondson has been suspended over fresh allegations linking him to the interception of messages on the phones of Sienna Miller and her boyfriend Jude Law.

Off the hack: Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson claimed he had no knowledge of phone hacking by his journalists

Lawyers for the actress claim paperwork and other records seized by police from private investigator Glenn Mulcaire imply Mr Edmondson was involved in the hacking.

She is suing the News of the World’s parent company, News Group, and Mulcaire, accusing them of harassment and breaching her privacy.

However, last night a Metropolitan Police spokesman said its position
had not changed. Mulcaire and former News of the World reporter Clive Goodman were jailed at the Old Bailey in January 2007 after they admitted conspiracy to access phone messages involving Princes William and Harry.

Mr Coulson, who was editor at the time the hacking took place, has always denied knowledge of it.

Ed Balls, the Shadow Home Secretary, suggested on the BBC’s World at One yesterday that the investigation should be reopened.

He said: ‘How can the head of media in Number 10 be somebody who is under such suspicion that he was involved in illegal activity?’

A spokesman for the News of the World said: ‘The allegation is the subject of litigation and our internal investigation will take place in tandem with that.’