Former Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, Akers joined the force in 1976 and retired at the end of 2012, having led Operation Weeting, investigating the News International phone-hacking scandal, and the related Operations Elveden and Tuleta, respectively investigating inappropriate payments to police officers and other public officials and computer hacking. Akers was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in 2007 and appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to policing.
Former editor of the News of the World (2007-11) and in post when the paper ceased publication on 10 July 2011 following the phone-hacking investigation scandal. He gave evidence to the Inquiry that phone-hacking preceded his arrival but that he had felt “uneasy” about metaphorical “bombs under the newsroom floor”. In 2012, Myler became editor-in-chief of the New York City Daily News.
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.
Non-profit organisation, website and magazine, founded by Michael Scammell, which tackles issues of censorship and reduced rights to free speech. Publishes works from censored writers around the world and tweeted on the Inquiry throughout. Index said it thought regulation a slippery slope but would welcome better self-regulation.
British Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards from 2008 to 2012. Lyon was involved in the investigations of both the MPs expenses scandal and the cash-for-influence scandal of 2010. He told the Inquiry that his office had no responsibility for the conduct of the press.
English actor, comedian and businessman at the time of the Inquiry. Morrissey gave evidence of being misreported in the media, telling the Inquiry that the Daily Mail in particular had refused to delay publication when told a story was false. Also reported intense press harassment when news of his affair with TV presenter Amanda Holden was exposed.
Production assistant working with Warner Bros, identified as the "plummy-voiced" English woman at the centre of Hugh Grant's phone-hacking scandal. Owen gave evidence that as part of her work she left many messages on Grant's mobile which were gratuitously exposed in the press and which the press described as flirtatious.
Group consisting of Jacqui Hames, Max Mosley, Mary-Ellen Field, Mark Thomson, Bob Dowler, Hugh Grant, Evan Harris, Gerry McCann and John Prescott identified as the initial victims of the phone hacking scandal.
Founded 1981. British newspaper publisher at the centre of the phone-hacking scandal. At the time of the Inquiry, NI was publisher of The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun newspapers. Former publications included Today, News of the World and The London Paper. On 31 May 2011, the company name was changed from News International Limited to NI Group Limited, and on 26 June 2013 to News UK. In opening evidence, NI's counsel, Rhodri Davies, welcomed the Inquiry and apologised for the phone hacking. He said lessons had been learned. He also declared that NI was in favour of self-regulation and that the company believed the PCC could be improved.
