The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Ping! The next stage of the phone-hacking scandal is ready

Corrupt police officers let NoW journalists track mobile phones using technology normally r

By Duncan Robinson Published 12 July 2011 14:25

There is one thing the media loves reporting on it: itself. Broadsheets and tabloids alike have leapt upon the demise of the News of the World with delight. They have reported the movements of an 80-year-old man in fine detail, and analysed to death the likelihood of a media company taking over another media company that it already has a controlling stake in. In their desire to report on the media ramifications of the scandal, however, the media have not given due prominence to what will be the larger and more long-running scandal: corruption within Britain's police forces.

Thankfully they have not made this mistake across the pond. The New York Times today reports that News of the World journalists paid police $500 to track someone's mobile phone.

Under British law, the technology involved is restricted to law enforcement and security officials, requires case-by-case authorization, and is used mainly for high-profile criminal cases and terrorism investigations. . .

In other words, British police officers were more than happy to use technology that was aimed at capturing terrorists in order to earn a few hundred quid from a tabloid hack. The New York Times continues:

The former Scotland Yard official who discussed the matter said that any officer who agreed to use the technique to assist a newspaper would be crossing a red line.

"That would be a massive breach," he said.

The police have an increasing number of questions to answer in this sorry affair.

Tags: Phone hacking scandal New York Times News of the World Rupert Murdoch

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7 comments

Sun, 2012-11-11 17:18 — MydaytabMub (not verified)

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Tue, 2011-07-12 14:28 — David Wearing1

Bit of a racy pose from those two at the front of the photo.

Tue, 2011-07-12 15:44 — gerry (not verified)

Duncan - another example of the institutional corruption that is the Met Police, and probably in most police forces in the country.

After the shameful expose of how national and Murdoch journalism is 100% corrupt amoral and criminal, the next expose must be how the police especially in London are rotten to the core, from top to bottom, absolutely blatantly criminal, corrupt and corrupting.

I would love to think that Akers is the rare honest cop who will turn on her own, but I am not so sure..we'll see when her "inquiry" takes its course...

Tue, 2011-07-12 16:18 — Freeman2

''Ello, 'Ello, 'Ello: The Metropolitan Police in a less scandal-hit time.'

There never was such a time, never was a golden age. The Met have always been arseholes.

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Wed, 2011-07-13 10:47 — p j wall (not verified)

Two words, ANDY HAYMEN, this guy was, is, a total P.R. disaster for the met, if this guy told you today was wednesday you would check the calender!!!, he comes across as slimy, dodgy, and cocky, his reactions to some questions where pathetic and childish at best!!, this guy used to be one of the top policemen in the country, what a joke, and at the same time scary!..

Wed, 2011-07-13 11:56 — hugh markey (not verified)

Suppose everybody's noticed. Every time a corporation gets in trouble the usual tactic is to deploy a woman spokesperson. Angela Knight seems to have become a permanent figurehead for Bankers. Nice way to top off a parliamentary stint - turn lobbyist. This Darwinist development seems to have taken place since feminism morped into white collar careerism for ladies. Those shoulder pads! Have really taken on in the developing world! All that stitching and cheap apparel!
One thing obvious from these hearings, quite expertly managed by chairman Vaz, is that Sue Akers is not a Free Mason. At least not a member of the original stone mason aspirational lot. Men only! Sadly, have a feeling a 'mirror image' secret organisation was set up in the last few years; strictly 'ladies only'!
Hopefully, this is quite independent of the original. Chinese walls, pillow talk, gossip and all that rubbish.

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