Detective Chief Superintendent and Head of Crime Services in Jersey at time of giving evidence. Had been in charge of the Ipswich 2006 serial murders investigation, including directing media strategy. Told the Inquiry that he had had to repeat warnings to the press about responsible reporting. At one point during the police investigation, press reports provoked a legal pre-trial challenge from the defence team who claimed that the reports could prevent the defendant securing a fair trial.
Crime correspondent for The Independent at the time of giving evidence. Peachey told the Inquiry that his contacts with the police aimed to hold them to account for their actions. This would have been understood, he said. Asked about "hospitality", he said it was limited to tea and biscuits during briefings.
Professional news & PR photographer, former Managing Director of NewsPics Ltd and Senior Photographic Officer with the Metropolitan Police Service. Told the Inquiry of his surveillance work over a period of years. He had used covert photographic methods to photograph more than 300 people in a two-year period, including following the McCanns to Canada on holiday. He said that at the time he thought it appropriate.
Crime editor of The Sun at the time of the Inquiry. In 2012, Sullivan was arrested as part of Operation Elveden and questioned on suspicion of corruption, aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office and conspiracy. He was later cleared of all charges.
Crime writer at the Daily Mail at the time of giving evidence. Among many accolades for his work, he won the Paul Foot Award in 2012 for his persistent investigation of the case of the murder of Stephen Lawrence. Wright outlined what he saw as the legal and ethical issues of investigating such cases. Asked about relations with the police, he said he relied on his ethics and his integrity while pursuing stories such as the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes or corrupt relationships at Scotland Yard. He knew and the police knew, he told the Inquiry, that he would expose any breach of duties that he uncovered.
Australian computer programmer and director, founder and editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, an organisation he formed in 2006, dedicated to leaking hitherto secret information. Assange gave evidence of his dealings with the Press Complaints Commission and his complaints about the many false statements and libels of him in the press.
Born 1959. Australian lawyer and, until 2014, Deputy Chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission. During her time at the IPCC was responsible for many high-profile criminal and misconduct investigations and decisions involving the police. Told the Inquiry of the IPCC’s role in relation to police response to events such as the phone-hacking scandal, the death of Ian Tomlinson during the London G20 protests in 2009, and the decision to launch an independent investigation into the aftermath of the Hillsborough football stadium disaster.
Appointed professor of Criminology at City, University of London in 2013 and Dean of Arts and Social Sciences in 2017. At the time of the Inquiry, he worked in the Department of Sociology and Centre for Law, Justice and Journalism at City University London. Gave extensive evidence with Professor Eugene McLaughlin on the changing nature of relations between the news media and police chiefs, with particular reference to the "trial by media" of former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair.
Crime reporter of the Daily Star Sunday at the time of giving evidence, having previously worked as a journalist in Cheshire and Liverpool. Said that he had little experience of working with the Metropolitan Police but had enjoyed occasional drinks and on one occasion a longer chat. His contacts were more generally formal, via press conferences, he said. He also answered questions on off-the-record briefings.
Formed in 2010. Grassroots campaign, run by volunteers, helping people serving mandatory life sentences for crimes committed by others. Helped support the cases of those who wanted to bring evidence of their poor treatment by the press.
Established in 2009 as a campaign to boost public support for a change in how Britain deals with lower-level offenders, Make Justice Work urges a switch from expensive and futile short prison terms to intensive and effective sanctions. Told the Inquiry that the tabloid press too often represented community solutions as "soft options".
International non-governmental organisation based in Germany with a non-profit purpose to combat global corruption and prevent criminal activities arising from corruption. It submitted views on areas in which sections of the UK media may have acted corruptly, and areas in which there was no evidence of corruption by the UK media but where the environment may have been conducive to corruption.
