We do not write because we want to; we write because we have to - Somerset Maugham
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NOTW hacking investigation grows closer to Murdoch
MONDAY CHIP-WRAPPER the News of the World (NOTW) has been severely criticised after fresh revelations about its phone hacking have arisen.
The tabloid, which concerns the bedroom antics of footballers and popstars, and what powder has been up whose nose, has recently been fingered for hacking phone lines and voicemails. Although a number of celebrities and politicians have been hacked, it is the latest revelation that has caused the most outrage and the calls for a full investigation.
Yesterday the Guardian reported that the NOTW, or people working for the newspaper, had hacked into and deleted messages from a voicemail account belonging to murdered teenager Milly Dowler. In doing so they had given false hope to her parents and potentially destroyed evidence, it reported.
Today the Guardian reports on moves in the House of Commons that could force an investigation into the newspaper and the way it practices its 'journalism', which seems to have involved quite a lot of listening in on private conversations.
According to Hansard, which covers the day's discussions in the House of Commons, Labour MP Tom Watson was pushing for answers.
"It has been revealed by The Guardian that Milly Dowler's phone was hacked by private investigators working for News of the World," he said.
"[This is] a despicable and evil act that will shock parents up and down the land to the very core."
Watson added that the new revelations called the findings of an earlier government investigation of the NOTW into question, something that the speaker suggested could be tackled by Parliament.
David Cameron, the UK prime minister also chimed in, according to the BBC, and called the news 'shocking' during a press conference in Afghanistan. Commenting on the allegations he added, "If they are true, this is a truly dreadful act and a truly dreadful situation."
The then editor of the newspaper, Rebekah Brooks has the support of media magnate Rupert Murdoch, according to a BBC blog that cites a News International insider. However that might not be enough to save her.
Watson has promised a full inquiry, and on his Twitter feed has hinted that he will increase pressure later this week. "If Labour and Tory leaders do not act now then it's an absolute outrage. Pls help me to get Ed Miliband and David Cameron to speak out," he said. "The launch of a national campaign for a public inquiry takes place on Wednesday". µ
Tags: Security
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Rupert Murdoch knew, or should have known (to use the barristers' terms) that his employees were accessories to murder and were in violation not merely of criminal law, but of all human moral and ethical restrictions. There is no way such activity could have been performed on such a pervasive level without the direct involvement of the very highest level of management.
Absolutely. But it's more than perverting the course of justice, it's disposal of evidence, obstructing the police, aiding and abetting if it actually hindered an investigation, etc. etc. Those are all criminal acts.
Clearly a whole host of criminal acts have been committed. What will be interesting is to see how high up the chain the criminal responsibility goes.
In murder cases there is the concept of joint enterprise; the guy encouraging the bloke who actually pulled the trigger is just as guilty. Does that principal apply to other criminal acts?
If it does, where does the chain end? Rebecca Wade? The Dirty Digger himself? Now wouldn't that be a sight to behold... There's talk in this evening's news of huge pressure from up on high to get results; does that count as joint enterprise?
What is quite astonishing is the way in which the police tumbled to what had been going on. Apparently the NOTW published something that the rozzers realised could have come only from Milly Dowler's mobile voicemail. Pretty stupid of the NOTW. Surely the first rule of spying is not to let on that you've been doing it? A host of lengthy jail sentences will make it clear that such appalling behaviour by the press isn't worth it. Publishing it might just be as good as turning up at Wormwood scrubs and asking to stay for a few years.
When it was celebs and politicians getting hacked I really couldn't have cared less, it's part of the territory as far as being famous goes.
But interfering with a criminal investigation as serious as the Milly Dowler case is crossing the line from privacy breaches into perverting the course of justice.
Never mind resignations, I want to see people in prison for this. And the "News" of the world should be closed down.