A police officer for 34 years, Ian Blair served as Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, head of London's Metropolitan Police Service. He testified regarding his personal relationship with the media and as head of the police force. He gave detailed evidence of how relations between the media and police were conducted. Resigned in 2008 and became a peer in 2010. Lord Blair noted that the culture prevailing during his time as Commissioner was very different from the culture at the time of the Inquiry.
Paul Condon joined the police in 1967, becoming Chief Constable of Kent in 1988 and Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in 1993, aged 45, the youngest person to do so at that time, before stepping down in 2000. Answered questions at the Inquiry on his corruption strategy during his time at the Met.
Professor of the Psychiatry of Learning Disability at St George's, University of London, and crossbench life peer in the House of Lords in 2010. President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists from 2005 to 2008 and from 2012 to 2013 President of the British Medical Association. Hollins gave evidence of “unacceptable press behaviour” and the intrusion her family experienced in 2005 after her daughter was stabbed and left paralysed. She gave evidence later in 2012 complaining that fabricated stories about her son had appeared in the Daily Mail.
Director of Full Fact, an independent fact-checking organisation campaigning against inaccuracy in the media, at the time of giving evidence. Moy told the Inquiry that the phone-hacking scandal had undoubtedly harmed public trust in the press and that we all needed to ask why journalists were the people least trusted to "tell the truth". Full Fact is a registered charity.
Gus O'Donnell, former senior civil servant and economist, who between 2005 and 2011 (under three Prime Ministers) served as Cabinet Secretary, the highest official in the British Civil Service. Gave evidence concerning Andy Coulson's role as press chief to Prime Minister David Cameron, and offered his opinion that Coulson should have declared his News Corporation shares.
Philosopher and crossbench member of the House of Lords. Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge and, among many other senior roles, former President of the British Academy (2005-2009). She was founding President of the British Philosophical Association (BPA) and until 2006 Principal of Newnham College, Cambridge, and chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Gave written evidence to the Inquiry on press freedom and human rights in an international setting. Has published extensively on concepts of media freedom.
Chris Patten was a crossbench member of the House of Lords and a former governor of Hong Kong (1992-1997). Chairman of the BBC Trust at the time of giving evidence, he said regulation of the kind in place for broadcasting would not be appropriate for print journalism. Welcomed ideas such as Cabinet members being obliged to publish details of meetings with journalists.
John Stevens was Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (head of the Metropolitan Police Service) from 2000 until 2005. From 1991 to 1996, he was Chief Constable of Northumbria Police before being appointed one of HM Inspectors of Constabulary in September 1996. He was then appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Met in 1998 until his promotion to Commissioner in 2000. Told the Inquiry that he had set out to develop a close relationship with the media.
