» SubscribeMain section
-
Top story
Guardian hacking journalist David Leigh won't be charged
PA
DATELINE: 14/6/12
A Guardian journalist who admitted phone hacking will not be prosecuted, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said today. David Leigh, the paper's investigations executive editor, admitted hacking an arms company executive's phone. But today the CPS said that although the police investigation was not complete, its view was that Mr Leigh should not be prosecuted and the police have been advised accordingly.
Mr Leigh made the admission in an article after former News of the World royal reporter Clive Goodman pleaded guilty in December 2006 to intercepting voicemail messages left on royal aides' phones. He said in the article that he had got a "voyeuristic thrill" from listening to the voicemail messages.The CPS statement said: "As we said on April 18, the CPS was passed a file relating to one journalist with relation to alleged offences under RIPA (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act). "The journalist in question is David Leigh of The Guardian and the request for advice related to an article he wrote on December 4, 2006 and the evidence he gave to the Leveson Inquiry on that subject. "We have now considered this file and, although the investigation is not complete, the view has been taken that this is one of those rare cases in which it is clear that, prior to the collection and consideration of all the evidence, the public interest does not require a prosecution. The police have been advised accordingly.
"This advice was given under paragraph 4.2 of the Code for Crown Prosecutors and having considered the interim guidelines on assessing the public interest in cases affecting the media. "In summary, the guidelines say that prosecutors should consider whether the public interest served by the conduct in question outweighs the overall criminality. "If the answer is yes, it is less likely that a prosecution is required in the public interest. "Prosecutors are only able to take such a decision when they are satisfied that the broad extent of the alleged criminality has been determined and that they are able to make a fully informed assessment of the public interest. "This is not a charging decision based on a review of a full file of evidence, but is advice to the police before their investigation is complete. "Whilst it is a matter for the police whether to continue any investigation, regardless of advice received, we understand the decision has been taken that no further action will be taken." In a separate development, three people were arrested at around 6am today by police investigating allegations of inappropriate payments to police and public officials.
A 40-year-old man and 37-year-old woman were arrested at their homes in Corby, Northamptonshire, while a 31-year-old man was arrested at his home in Croydon, Surrey. The 40-year-old, a former prison officer, was arrested on suspicion of corruption, suspicion of misconduct in a public office and suspicion of money laundering offences; the woman on suspicion of aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office and suspicion of money laundering offences; and the other man on suspicion of conspiracy to corrupt and suspicion of conspiracy to cause misconduct in a public office. The 40-year-old and the woman are being questioned at a police station in Northamptonshire. The 31-year-old man is being questioned at a south London police station.
Today's arrests bring the number of suspects held in connection with Operation Elveden to 33. Scotland Yard said the arrests are the result of information provided by News Corporation's Management Standards Committee.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/guardian-hacking-journalist-david-leigh-wont-be-charged-7851045.html
Last modified: Thursday, June 14, 2012
Your comments:
» Click here to add your comment.
Comments will be subject to approval and should not be defamatory, obscene, racist, in breach of copyright, or contrary to law. The CPBF is not reponsible for any views expressed here.
Previous journalism ethics stories
Disabled people slam media libels
Phone hacking: No charges for Guardian reporter Amelia Hill over 'leaks'
Phone-hacking police charge Rebekah Brooks
11 referred to prosecutors by phone-hacking squad
News of the World phone-hacking cases launched in US
News Corporation's Australian branch in new hacking row
Chris Jefferies: Only press fines can prevent trial by media
Paying cash for stories: a demeaning trade that spawned phone hacking and illegal payments to Police officers
The Sun has eroded British justice, fairness and freedom: now it is feeling the effects
Sun in crisis
Evidence to the Joint Committee on Privacy and Injunctions from CPBF Chair Julian Petley
A Chance for Change
Phone hacking: Leveson inquiry into press ethics starts
The People in libel payout over Dale Farm slavery slur
News of the World hired investigators to spy on hacking victims' lawyers
Phone hacking: NoW warned about 'culture of illegal information access'
Milly Dowler police investigation may have been targeted
Wall Street Journal circulation scam claims senior Murdoch executive
Journalist wins legal battle after refusing to reveal sources
Phone hacking: News International faces more than 60 claims
Journalistic bad practice: more "icebergs" on the way
Phone hacking update
Phone hacking: News of the World reporter's letter reveals cover-up
The Sun and Hillsborough
News of the World accused of hacking Milly Dowler's phone
News of the World prints phone-hacking apology
Police ask BBC for cuts protest footage
Phone hacking: now judge tells police to stop protecting names
News of the World executive suspended over alleged phone hacking
Censored? Media silence over latest Coulson claims
-
Notices
Events & Announcements
World Press Freedom Day
More reporters are currently imprisoned in Turkey than in any other country in the world. Only a matter of weeks ago lawyers failed to persuade a Turkish court to release a 76-year-old journalist from a Turkish internet news station.
World Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3, 2013 is being marked in Britain by a rally to highlight the dangers facing journalists in Turkey and in this podcast, Nicholas Jones speaks to Barry White, Organiser at the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, and Sam Bamford, the TUC's policy officer for Eastern Europe and Africa about the importance of a campaign to highlight international press freedom.
The World Press Freedom Day rally is being staged by the National Union of Journalists at the NUJ head office, Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1 on Thursday May 2, 6pm-8pm.
DATELINE: 27/4/13
UK launch of EU media campaign
DATELINE: 13/3/13
The UK launch of a 'European Citizens' Initiative' calling for EU rules against concentration of media power will take place on Thursday March 21 from 11:00am – 12:30pm in Committee Room 4A at the House of Lords, London. Guest speakers will include actor and activist Hugh Grant (pictured), media consultant Claire Enders, Professor Steven Barnett, Barry McCall (President of the NUJ) and Marc Gruber (Director of the European Federation of Journalists).
A European Citizens' Initiative is an official petition, like a Downing Street petition. If it succeeds in gathering a million signatures across the EU, the Commission is obliged to respond.
This petition calls for the EU to act to protect media pluralism and press freedom.
CPBF Annual General Meeting
DATELINE: 1/3/13
Make a note in your diary
Saturday 13 July 2013 from 10.00am
NUJ HQ, 308/312 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1.
Leveson, media ownership, CPBF future work.
DOWNLOAD FREEPRESS NOW
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Download Freepress in PDF, ePub or mobi format. Issue 194 now available.
MEDIA FOR ALL CONFERENCE
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Papers from the Media for All Conference
MEDIA MANIFESTO
DATELINE: 26/3/10
The media’s job is to inform and entertain us but we rely on them too to tell us what our rulers and representatives are up to. In the run-up to the Iraq war the government used spin and disinformation in the media to create panic and mislead people. The truth is coming out now, but we need stronger, more independent media to be able to scrutinise governments and make informed choices.
-
Previous stories
Journalism Ethics
Disabled people slam media libels
Phone hacking: No charges for Guardian reporter Amelia Hill over 'leaks'
Phone-hacking police charge Rebekah Brooks
11 referred to prosecutors by phone-hacking squad
News of the World phone-hacking cases launched in US
News Corporation's Australian branch in new hacking row
Chris Jefferies: Only press fines can prevent trial by media
Paying cash for stories: a demeaning trade that spawned phone hacking and illegal payments to Police officers
The Sun has eroded British justice, fairness and freedom: now it is feeling the effects
Sun in crisis
Evidence to the Joint Committee on Privacy and Injunctions from CPBF Chair Julian Petley
A Chance for Change
Phone hacking: Leveson inquiry into press ethics starts
The People in libel payout over Dale Farm slavery slur
News of the World hired investigators to spy on hacking victims' lawyers
Phone hacking: NoW warned about 'culture of illegal information access'
Milly Dowler police investigation may have been targeted
Wall Street Journal circulation scam claims senior Murdoch executive
Journalist wins legal battle after refusing to reveal sources
Phone hacking: News International faces more than 60 claims
Journalistic bad practice: more "icebergs" on the way
Phone hacking update
Phone hacking: News of the World reporter's letter reveals cover-up
The Sun and Hillsborough
News of the World accused of hacking Milly Dowler's phone
News of the World prints phone-hacking apology
Police ask BBC for cuts protest footage
Phone hacking: now judge tells police to stop protecting names
News of the World executive suspended over alleged phone hacking
Censored? Media silence over latest Coulson claims
