Based in London, the News of the World is a tabloid newspaper owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News International. Dating back to 2006, there have been a string of allegations claiming that the paper’s staff, and investigators they employed, have illegally hacked into the voicemails of the rich, famous and powerful. As a result of police investigations, the paper’s royal editor and a private investigator were jailed in 2007 for illegally accessing voicemails belonging to members of the Royal Family.

That was just the beginning. In 2009 and 2010, more information emerged regarding how widespread these illegal practices were at the NOTW. A number of celebrity victims have taken the paper to court, and by March 2010, the NOTW had already paid out over 2 million in settlements. Some of these cases are still in progress.

In early 2011, Andy Coulson, who had previously resigned as editor at the paper in 2006, resigned from his role as David Cameron’s communications director amid continuing attention regarding phone hacking practices he was allegedly involved with. In March 2011, the Metropolitan Police began a new criminal investigation into fresh allegations of phone hacking at the NOTW, and have since arrested 3 people in connection with the case.

The Metropolitan Police began a new criminal investigation into fresh allegations of phone hacking at the NOTW in March 2011, and this has so far resulted in 3 arrests. In what most people are seeing as a shallow attempt at damage limitation, the paper printed an apology on 8 April 2011 for breaching the privacy of a number of household names including actress Siena Miller and sports broadcaster Andy Gray. It is continuing to challenge allegations made by others, however.

There should be a public inquiry into the way the police have responded to the various allegations that have been levelled over the last 5 years, according to John Whittingdale (chairman of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee). He has criticised Scotland Yard for what was initially a rather flaccid response to the evidence it was confronted with. He has also expressed misgivings about how the scandal reflects on the security of the government and the royal household.

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