Police: No further investigation needed into phone tapping
Former deputy prime minister John Prescott has said he will contact the police
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Thursday, 09, Jul 2009 06:25
Police have said no further investigation is required into allegations of phone-tapping involving the News of the World.
The Guardian newspaper had earlier alleged News Group Newspapers paid £1 million in out-of-court settlements following accusations their reporters were involved in phone bugging.
Reports suggested thousands of celebrities and high-profile politicians had their phone messages hacked into.
However, Assistant Commissioner of the Met John Yates said only a small group of people had been targeted and they were contacted and informed.
Two years ago, News of the World journalist Clive Goodman was jailed after pleading guilty to hacking into the phone messages of royal staff.
This morning, former deputy prime minister John Prescott said he would be writing to the police after his name was mentioned as one of the potential victims.
He also questioned the position of Andy Coulson, the director of communications for Conservative party leader David Cameron, as he was editor at News of the World at the time the alleged bugging was meant to have taken place.
However, this afternoon AC Yates there was no evidence Mr Prescott's phone had been tapped.
He also said no further investigation was required but the police would ensure all those who had been affected were contacted.
Following Mr Cameron's decision to stand by Mr Coulson, both the Labour party and the Liberal Democrats questioned his position, but he has continued to deny any involvement in the scandal.