Over at The Guardian, Lib Dem shadow home secretary Chris Huhne argues that fresh evidence in the News of the World hacking scandal should compel the Met to re-open its inquiry. Here’s an excerpt:
The surveillance state has rightly become a matter of great public concern, which is why the Guardian’s scoop that the use of private investigators who phone hacked was apparently widespread on the News of the World was so sensational. This is not something that can be brushed aside, because it strikes at the heart of the privacy any individual can expect in a civilised society. If the Security Service – MI5 – had been systematically tapping into phone messages, every media organisation in the country would be up in arms.
We are not talking here about a newspaper inquiry in the public interest. A venal politician, miscreant minister or corrupt contractor are all fair game, but there has to be a clear line drawn between investigative activity in the public interest – for example, exposing Robert Maxwell’s plundering of his pension funds – and investigations to titillate the interest of the public. …
I have complained to the Independent Police Complaints Commission because the Metropolitan police department that conducted the original investigation should not be judge and jury in its own trial for potential neglect of duty. There is a clear public interest that the Met reopens this inquiry, so that we can establish whether there have been systematic and illegal invasions of privacy. Nothing else will ensure that they stop.
You can read the article in full HERE.
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