Mandelson and Straw want answers on NOTW hacking

FORMER CABINET MINISTERS Peter Mandelson and Jack Straw have contacted the Metropolitan Police in search of answers about the News of The World (NOTW) phone hacking scandal.

Mandelson and Straw rang up Inspector Knacker of The Yard after being alerted that they might have been victims of the tabloid newspaper hacking, The Independent reports. Lord Mandelson said, "I have contacted the Met Police today to ask them what information they may hold from current or previous investigations."

Straw said that he first learned about his phone being hacked after reading coverage in the newspapers. He was reportedly suspicious that he might have been targeted.

The police haven't been left out of the ordeal with former commissioner of the London Metropolitan police, Sir John Stevens, and the assistant commissioner, John Yates having been named as targets.

Yesterday we reported that the scandal had escalated to include Prince Edward, Kate Middleton and Tony Blair. The former prime minister said, "I assume that if someone's got something they will get in touch with me."

Journalist Jonathan Rees is accused of hacking the phones and computers of the rich and powerful and lawyers have previously estimated that the number of hacked phones could total 7,000.

Previous police investigations are thought to have been somewhat insufficient. Former Tory Cabinet minister David Mellor said, "Scotland Yard have been extremely tardy investigating these allegations, perhaps because senior officers were more concerned with protecting their own relationships with News International rather than doing their duty,"

Rees isn't the only journalist who is thought to have been involved, however, because some of Rupert Murdoch's other NOTW tabloid rag writers, including Glenn Mulcaire, Ian Edmondson and Neville Thurlbeck have been allegedly implicated as well. µ