No new phone hacking charges after witnesses refuse to co-operate

There is no admissible evidence to bring fresh criminal charges in the News of the World phone-hacking investigation, the director of public prosecutions announced today.

In a post published on the Crown Prosecution Service blog, Keir Starmer QC (pictured) said today that "there is no admissible evidence upon which the CPS could properly advise the police to bring criminal charges".

A fresh police investigation was launched in September following a report on alleged phone-hacking at the tabloid by the New York Times, which included comments from sources suggesting the practice was more widespread and more widely known than previously thought.

In November, a file containing new evidence was handed to the Crown Prosecution Service by Scotland Yard with a view to bringing fresh criminal charges in the case.

But Starmer said today that a lack of co-operation from key witnesses in the case meant that the CPS could not advise the police to bring criminal charges at this stage:

"Sean Hoare, who made significant allegations in the New York Times and elsewhere, was interviewed by the police but refused to comment. A number of other witnesses were interviewed and either refused to cooperate with the police investigation, provided short statements which did not advance matters, or denied any knowledge of wrongdoing.

"Against that background, there is no admissible evidence upon which the CPS could properly advise the police to bring criminal charges. The contents of the reports in the New York Times and the associated reports and coverage are not enough for criminal proceedings unless those making allegations are prepared to provide the police with admissible evidence to support their assertions. None have been prepared to do so."

He added that, in the event of further allegations being made, the CPS "remains willing" to consider any evidence submitted to it by the police.

"To facilitate this, the CPS and the Metropolitan Police Service intend to convene a panel of police officers and prosecutors to assess those allegations with a view to determining whether or not investigations should take place," he said.

"I have made it clear that a robust attitude needs to be taken to any unauthorised interception. But a criminal prosecution can only take place if those making allegations of wrongdoing are prepared to cooperate with a criminal investigation and to provide admissible evidence of the wrongdoing they allege."

The News of the World declined to comment. The New York Times has not yet responded to a request for comment.

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