Andy Coulson arrested over phone hacking and corruption

The former editor of the News of the World Andy Coulson has reportedly been arrested in connection with allegations of corruption and phone hacking.

In a statement today the Metropolitan Police confirmed a 43-year-old man was arrested by appointment at a South London police station and is currently in custody.

Earlier today it was being widely reported that Coulson, who was hired by the prime minister David Cameron as his director of communications following his resignation from the News of the World, had attended a police station, but this could not be confirmed at the time by police.

However, Scotland Yard has now issued a statement to say a man was arrested at 10.30 this morning by officers from both Operation Weeting, which is investigating allegations of phone hacking and Operation Elveden, which is investigating alleged "inappropriate payments" to police under the supervision of the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

In the statement police said "it would be inappropriate to discuss any further details regarding these cases at this time".

According to the Telegraph Coulson is also facing a perjury investigation after Scottish police announced they are to examine his testimony in the Tommy Sheridan trial.

"The Crown Office yesterday asked Strathclyde Police to conduct a “preliminary assessment” of witness evidence in the trial in light of the latest allegations in the phone hacking scandal," the Independent reports.

During the trial Coulson repeated his claim of having no knowledge of wrongdoing during his time as editor.

Today the prime minister David Cameron explained his reasons for hiring Coulson as his director of communications, a job he later resigned from.

"I decided to give him a second chance but the second chance didn't work. The decision to hire him was mine and mine alone," he said.

"I'm not hiding from the decision I made," he added. "He said he didn't know what was happening and I though it was right to give him a second chance ... People will make their own judgement."

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