PCC forms working group to examine action on phone hacking

The Press Complaints Commission has set up a phone-hacking review committee to look at the commission's previous actions, consider new information and make recommendations.

The working group will consist of the two most recent lay commissions, Ian Walden, professor of information and communications law at Queen Mary University of London and Julie Spence, former chief constable of Cambridgeshire Police, both experts in relevant legal fields, as well as editorial commissioner John McLellan, editor of the Scotsman.

According to a release, the purpose of the committee will be to draw together the lessons learned as a result of the outcomes of the relevant police inquiries and ongoing legal actions.

The News of the World confirmed last week, on the same day that Scotland Yard relaunched its phone hacking investigation, that its assistant editor (news), Ian Edmondson, who was suspended earlier this month pending an internal investigation, had been sacked.

"The PCC has remained concerned about the issue of phone hacking, which raises serious questions about journalistic ethics and past conduct by journalists," the PCC said in a release.

"Of course, the Commission cannot comment about matters that are properly being considered by police at this time. Nor can it interfere with ongoing legal actions, based on information to which we are not currently privy. However, the PCC is resolute in its determination to ensure future good practice in the industry."

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