May backs police in hacking case (From Bucks Free Press)

May backs police in hacking case

5:44pm Monday 6th September 2010 in

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Home Secretary Theresa May said it was "right" for the police to consider any fresh newspaper phone-tapping evidence, amid mounting pressure on David Cameron's communications chief.

But Mrs May insisted the decision on whether to reopen the investigation was for Scotland Yard and ministers would not interfere.

The comments came after Number 10 communications chief Andy Coulson, the former editor of the News of the World, told police he would be happy to meet them voluntarily to discuss the latest claims.

Controversy over the case has erupted again after ex-NotW journalist Sean Hoare claimed Mr Coulson knew of eavesdropping tactics used during his time in charge.

The newspaper's former royal editor, Clive Goodman, and a private investigator, were jailed in 2007 following disclosures that phones belonging to public figures had been targeted.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister retained full confidence in Mr Coulson, who has consistently denied any knowledge of the activities, and that the new allegations made no difference to his position.

But Labour MPs lined up to grill Mrs May on the issue after she was summoned to the Commons to answer an urgent question.

Shadow home secretary Alan Johnson said he was reassured by the Met when in government last year that they had not received any allegations about other journalists.

The police had also pledged to take "all proper steps" to inform victims or suspected victims of phone tapping, he said.

"You must subject the actions of the Metropolitan Police Service in this case to greater scrutiny in the light of this allegation and the new revelations from the New York Times," he insisted.