Police officers found guilty of taking money from News International should face the full weight of the law, Cambridge’s MP insists.
Julian Huppert was among 11 MPs listening to the evidence of senior Met officers Sir Paul Stephenson and John Yates when they appeared before the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee yesterday.
Answering questions at the committee, Sir Paul, who resigned as Commissioner of the force on Sunday, revealed that nearly a quarter of the Met’s communications team previously worked for the News International.
And Mr Yates, who quit as assistant commissioner on Monday, said it was time for the newspaper company to face up to its responsibilities – “confidently” predicting officers would be jailed.
Dr Huppert, the only Liberal Democrat on the committee, said: “Their evidence raised a whole series of concerns for me about what has being going on in the Met.
“The general attitude seemed to be that officers did not know who was in charge of what, and there seem to have been constant links with News International.
“If officers have broken the law, then there must be action. Corruption in the police must lead to prosecutions.”
The committee hearing took place in a room close to where Rupert Murdoch and his son James were facing their intensely-awaited grilling by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee about the News of the World phone hacking scandal.
Rupert Murdoch told MPs he could not be held responsible for hacking, saying he was let down by “people I trusted”, but adding he was “humbled” by what had happened.
There was drama when a man threw a paper plate covered in shaving foam over him as he gave evidence. The media tycoon’s wife Wendi leapt to his defence, first pushing him away and then smacking the plate over the demonstrator as he was led away by police.
Dr Huppert said: “I heard the noise next door when the incident happened.”
The MP said he was doubtful about the Murdochs’ claims that they were unaware of the extent of the wrongdoing at News International.
Dr Huppert said: “Senior executives should know what is going on in the organisations they’re in charge of.”
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