Call hacking source hunt abandoned

Scotland Yard has abandoned its bid to force the Guardian newspaper to reveal confidential sources for stories relating to the phone hacking scandal.

The Yard’s attempt to identify potential police leaks was widely condemned, with the newspaper’s editor, Alan Rusbridger, describing it as “vindictive and disproportionate”.

A police spokesman said last night: “The Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards yesterday consulted the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) about the alleged leaking of information by a police officer from Operation Weeting. The CPS has today asked that more information be provided to its lawyers and for appropriate time to consider the matter.

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“In addition the MPS has taken further legal advice this afternoon and as a result has decided not to pursue, at this time, the application for production orders scheduled for hearing on Friday 23 September. We have agreed with the CPS that we will work jointly with them in considering the next steps.”

An officer working on the force’s investigation into phone hacking was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office relating to the unauthorised disclosure of information. He has been suspended from the force and is on bail.

Scotland Yard said the investigation into the alleged leaks had not concluded however, and stressed their investigation was “about establishing whether a police officer has leaked information”.

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