Sue Akers: evidence to Leveson inquiry has been referred to the attorney general
A claim made to the Leveson inquiry that the Sun newspaper appeared to have a "culture of illegal payments" to the police and other public officials is to be examined by the attorney general, following a complaint that it might prejudice any potential trial.
Dominic Grieve's office confirmed last night that it is looking into the comments, made at the inquiry last week by Metropolitan police deputy assistant commissioner Sue Akers.
Akers, who is in charge of three linked inquiries into alleged phone hacking, computer hacking and improper payments to the police and other public officials, told the Leveson inquiry that there was a "network of corrupted officials" in "all areas of public life" who appeared to have accepted payments.
She told Leveson: "These are cases in which arrests have been made involving the delivery of regular, frequent and sometimes significant sums of money to small numbers of public officials by journalists.
"There appears to have been a culture at the Sun of illegal payments, and systems have been created to facilitate such payments while hiding the identity of the officials receiving the money."
A spokeswoman for the attorney general said in a statement last night: "Evidence given during the Leveson inquiry has been drawn to the attention of the attorney general's office. The attorney general will consider the concerns raised."
The Met launched Operation Elveden, looking into alleged corrupt payments, in June last year. A number of police officers and other officials have been arrested on suspicion of corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 and/or aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office. Journalists at the Sun have also been arrested and released on police bail without charge.
The Leveson inquiry will hear today from former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Blair.
Also appearing today are former Met assistant commissioner Bob Quick, who resigned in 2009 after accidentally displaying details of a secret operation to photographers as he entered Downing Street, and ex-deputy commissioner Tim Godwin.
Free daily newsletter
If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).
