Charlotte Harris tells of 'obstructive' surveillance

Media lawyer Charlotte Harris told the Leveson inquiry today that the revelation she was the subject of surveillance by a private investigator on behalf of News International was "very obstructive" and "disconcerting".

It emerged last month that surveillance was carried out on Harris, who today referred to several batches of material which have been discovered relating to alleged surveillance of her, not all of which however she believes are linked to News International.

However the publisher did acknowledge in a statement in November this year that its own enquires "have led the company to believe that Mark Lewis and Charlotte Harris were subject to surveillance". It added that "while surveillance is not illegal, it was clearly deeply inappropriate in these circumstances" and "was not condoned by any current executive at the company".

Last week News International apologised as Lewis told the inquiry of the "horrific" video surveillance of him and his family.

Today Harris told the inquiry that in her professional role she wants to "focus on my cases and my clients" but that this sort of activity "gets in the way".

"As a mother it's natural to feel terribly uncomfortable with anyone looking into your family," she said.

"It has been very obstructive. I was trying to sort out some very difficult litigation, very difficult issues, and I wish it hadn't happened ... as it throws a spanner in the works in terms of just trying to get down to the groundwork."

Echoing a suggested phrase by Lord Leveson she added: "It disrupts orderly resolution".

Giving evidence to the committee she explained how she first came into possession of documents which appeared to relate to the surveillance of herself. She took these to News International "directly" and presented them to Simon Greenberg, News International's director of corporate affairs, who is now working on owner News Corporation's management and standards committee.

Returning to meet with him in August, Harris said she was told that while "the original report didn't look like it had emanated from News International", other "relevant" material had been discovered.

"So I allowed that investigation to continue," she added. "That culminated in documents that are confidential so are being handed to the police and now will form part of that inquiry."

When asked if she felt there was any justification for surveillance of her, she said "no", adding that it "seems an incredible thing to do".

"The idea that when there is this kind of criminality going on, particularly now we know a little more about levels of knowledge and have a better picture of what people knew and when they knew it, the idea that if I was concerned about an opponent lawyer that I would decide a good idea wouldn't be to write to them to say we are concerned, but to take out surveillance on family members ... I don't see how that could possibly help them.

"Why not just ask the question? … Don't raise it with a private investigator and send him on a train to Manchester. No need."

She said she has also written to the information commissioner regarding further surveillance-related documents obtained and shown to her by Channel 4 News.

"It's very important to try and make sure confidential information is handled properly. The content of that list would be sensitive so I have asked the information commissioner for guidance on it."

She also told the inquiry that the "first sprouts of evidence" are also beginning to emerge in relation to computer and email hacking. She said this is at "such an early stage" but that "I expect we'll hear more about that".

In closing with comment on the wider issues being discussed by the inquiry, Harris added: "Something has to be done so there is resolution to law breaking".

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