Phone hacking victims' lawyer set to give evidence to Leveson inquiry
A lawyer for alleged phone hacking victims will give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into press standards today.
Charlotte Harris is expected to tell of her shock when she learned that News International, publisher of the now-defunct News of the World, hired a private detective to spy on her and fellow lawyer Mark Lewis.
Ms Harris, of law firm Mishcon de Reya, has represented phone hacking victims including sports agent Sky Andrew and celebrity couple Leslie Ash and Lee Chapman in their civil claims for damages.
Today's other witnesses will be Steven Nott, who says he tried to warn the authorities about phone hacking in 1999, Guardian journalist David Leigh, and Chris Atkins, director of the 2009 documentary film Starsuckers about Britain's celebrity culture.
The inquiry heard yesterday from former deputy information commissioner Francis Aldhouse, who denied a claim that he said newspapers were "too big" to take on over the illegal trade in private information.
The Information Commissioner's Office uncovered a "treasure trove" of evidence linking journalists to the purchase of personal details when it raided the Hampshire home of private detective Steve Whittamore in March 2003 as part of a major inquiry called Operation Motorman, the hearing was told.
Mr Aldhouse said media groups were not pursued for prosecution after then-information commissioner Richard Thomas decided to raise the issue via the Press Complaints Commission instead. Mr Thomas will give evidence to the inquiry on Friday.
Prime Minister David Cameron set up the Leveson Inquiry in July in response to revelations that the News of the World commissioned a private detective to hack murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone after she disappeared in 2002.
The first part of the inquiry, sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, is looking at the culture, practices and ethics of the press in general and is due to produce a report by next September.
The second part, examining the extent of unlawful activities by journalists, will not begin until detectives have completed their investigation into alleged phone hacking and corrupt payments to police, and any prosecutions have been concluded.
