Milly officers victims of phone hacking

Police officers investigating the disappearance of Milly Dowler in 2002 themselves fell victim to phone hacking.

The Leveson Inquiry, set up to examine media ethics and press relations between police and politicians, is expected to begin its hearings on November 14.

However, speaking at a seminar this week, John Beggs QC, counsel for Surrey Police, the force which led the investigation in 2002, said that it is “very likely” that a number of Surrey Police officers themselves were victims of phone hacking, at the time of launching the Milly Dowler investigation in March 2002.

However, Mr Beggs did not say whether it was through the force’s own investigation that it learnt its officers had their phones hacked or if it is something which emerged in light of the ongoing Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) investigation – Operation Weeting.

Mr Beggs also said that the force should be allowed “core participant” status in the Leveson Inquiry in light of the criticism it has faced in relation to its handling of the case.

Last week, Surrey Police admitted that it failed to inform the first MPS investigation into phone hacking at the News of the World of the fact that it was aware of the hacking of the Milly’s phone by or on behalf of News of the World in 2002 and did not inform anyone outside the force.

Surrey Chief Constable Mark Rowley said the force’s inquiry team is currently looking into why it did not launch an investigation when it became apparent that Milly’s voicemail had been hacked.

Since last week’s revelations, it has also emerged that a phone registered to News International had been used in more than 1,000 incidents of illegal hacking.

Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, has written to MPS Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers asking her to confirm the existence of the phone.