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Press Release

Law Society urges investigation into phone hacking

28 July 2011

The Law Society is urging a thorough investigation of phone hacking allegations by solicitors against News International.

Law Society Chief Executive Desmond Hudson has written to Lord Justice Leveson asking him to consider the matter as part of his inquiry into the phone hacking affair.

Writing to Lord Justice Leveson, Mr Hudson said:

“Quite aside from the breach of privacy for both solicitors and their clients that this would have entailed if shown to be true, the suggestion that the information was gathered specifically to undermine their legal claims against the newspaper introduces new questions about how the practice of phone hacking was used.

“Specifically, if hacking was carried out with the intention of undermining court action, it could constitute an attempt to pervert the course of justice, the seriousness of which I know you will appreciate.

“We consider that this issue is of such importance as to merit specific consideration by the Inquiry, and we would be grateful for your views on this.”

Mr Hudson last week expressed outrage after hearing from members of the legal profession who police had notified about possible criminal activity.

“The extent of the phone hacking scandal has already shown a blatant disregard for the privacy of individuals and the Law Society urges the police to investigate these claims with the utmost vigour.”

Mr Hudson has also written in similar terms to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson asking that the issue be specifically investigated because of what appear to have been breaches of the criminal law.



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