Starmer: Charging advice 'likely' for more journalist cases

The director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer, has said it is "likely" that more cases involving potential criminal charges against journalists will be referred to him for advice shortly.

Yesterday, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that it had received files for charging advice relating to 11 people - including four journalists - for a number of alleged offences, including perverting the course of justice and witness intimidation.

There are currently 43 people on police bail in relation to Operations Weeting, Tuleta and Elveden - the investigations into phone hacking, computer hacking and payments to public officials.

Starmer, who yesterday published interim guidelines on prosecution of journalists and the public interest considerations, told the Media Show on BBC Radio 4: "These are simply the first batch of cases to have reached us. I think it is likely there will be others following on - whether it will be all 43 or even more, I don't know."

The Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement: "We are unable to give any timescale for charging decisions, except to say that these cases are being considered very carefully and thoroughly, and the decisions will be made as soon as is practicable."

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