BBC News - Phone hacking: Who is in the firing line?

30 July 2011 Last updated at 05:18 ET

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Phone hacking: Who is in the firing line?

The News of the World scandal has prompted a rash of investigations into possible media and police misconduct. Here we list the main inquiries, police investigations and lawsuits relating to the furore over phone hacking.

Under scrutiny

Inquiries and reviews Details Conclusion

Judicial inquiry part one: UK media

The judicial inquiry, led by Lord Justice Leveson, will be in two parts. The first will focus on "the culture, practices and ethics" of the UK media. It will look at relationships between newspapers, broadcasters, social media networks, politicians and the police as well as media regulation. The panel includes journalists, police officers and a civil rights campaigner

Report expected within 12 months

Part two: conduct of NI, other newspaper groups and police

The second part of the inquiry will focus on the extent of unlawful or improper conduct within News International (NI) and other newspaper groups. It will also look at the original police investigation into phone hacking, known as Operation Glade, and consider whether there were management failures at NI

Report dependent on police probe

MPs' inquiry into press standards

The Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee - which previously conducted an inquiry into press standards - has questioned Rebekah Brooks, Rupert Murdoch and his son James on the phone-hacking scandal. Rupert Murdoch said he had been unaware of the extent of phone hacking and James Murdoch apologised to the victims of phone hacking. Rebekah Brooks insisted that she had never sanctioned payments to police

Watch Rupert and James Murdoch giving evidence

MPs' inquiry into police investigation

The Commons Home Affairs Select Committee launched an inquiry into phone hacking last year following new claims the News of the World (NoW) intercepted messages of public figures. It is looking into the original 2006 police investigation, as well as Scotland Yard's 2009 review. Senior officers - including Former Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman - have been questioned by MPs

The select committee has published a report criticising News International's "deliberate attempts to thwart investigations" into hacking. It was also highly critical of the original police investigation

Review of media's relationship with the Met Police

Prime Minister David Cameron has asked former Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Elizabeth Filkin to "examine the ethical considerations that should, in future, underpin the relationships between the Metropolitan Police and the media".

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary will also "consider instances of undue influence, inappropriate contractual arrangements and other abuses of power in police relationships with the media and other parties".

There will be a review of the Independent Police Complaints Commission and whether it needs new powers to question civilian witnesses and investigate institutional failings

Due to make recommendations in the next few months on ways to restore public confidence in the Met by ensuring "maximum transparency"

Review of media's relationship with Whitehall

David Cameron has asked Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell to ensure that senior civil servants regulate and record contacts with the press

Ongoing

Police investigations - UK and abroad

Operation Weeting

Operation Weeting, led by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers of Scotland Yard, is looking at alleged phone hacking at the NoW. A number of people have been arrested. The number of police officers involved has recently been increased from 45 to 60

Ongoing

Operation Elveden

A second investigation - Operation Elveden - also led by Sue Akers, is looking at e-mails received from NI that allegedly show payments made to police by the NoW

Ongoing

Operation Tuleta

Officers are investigating allegations that computers were hacked to obtain private information. Operation Tuleta will look into claims that a computer belonging to a former army intelligence officer, involved in Northern Ireland security issues, was hacked by a private investigator five years ago. The team has been "scoping" a series of allegations received since January 2011.

Ongoing

FBI investigation

In the US, the FBI has launched an investigation into allegations News Corp journalists sought to hack the phones of the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks and actor Jude Law while he was visiting New York. There are also calls for a US investigation into alleged payments to UK police, which could expose News Corp to charges under US anti-corruption laws

Ongoing

Lawsuits against News International and News Corp

Hacking civil action

A number of high-profile figures have launched legal action against NI over hacking claims. Some have already been awarded out-of-court settlements. Four test cases of alleged victims - including actor Jude Law - are due to be heard at the High Court next year

Ongoing

Shareholders' legal action

News Corporation is being sued by a group of shareholders who allege a failure of corporate governance. The legal action was filed in the US and is an updated version of a previous action, amended to include claims relating to the hacking scandal

Ongoing

Under scrutiny
Inquiries and reviews	Details	Conclusion
Judicial inquiry part one: UK media	The judicial inquiry, led by Lord Justice Leveson, will be in two parts. The first will focus on "the culture, practices and ethics" of the UK media. It will look at relationships between newspapers, broadcasters, social media networks, politicians and the police as well as media regulation. The panel includes journalists, police officers and a civil rights campaigner	Report expected within 12 months
Part two: conduct of NI, other newspaper groups and police	The second part of the inquiry will focus on the extent of unlawful or improper conduct within News International (NI) and other newspaper groups. It will also look at the original police investigation into phone hacking, known as Operation Glade, and consider whether there were management failures at NI	Report dependent on police probe
MPs' inquiry into press standards	The Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee - which previously conducted an inquiry into press standards - has questioned Rebekah Brooks, Rupert Murdoch and his son James on the phone-hacking scandal. Rupert Murdoch said he had been unaware of the extent of phone hacking and James Murdoch apologised to the victims of phone hacking. Rebekah Brooks insisted that she had never sanctioned payments to police	Watch Rupert and James Murdoch giving evidence
MPs' inquiry into police investigation	The Commons Home Affairs Select Committee launched an inquiry into phone hacking last year following new claims the News of the World (NoW) intercepted messages of public figures. It is looking into the original 2006 police investigation, as well as Scotland Yard's 2009 review. Senior officers - including Former Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman - have been questioned by MPs	The select committee has published a report criticising News International's "deliberate attempts to thwart investigations" into hacking. It was also highly critical of the original police investigation
Review of media's relationship with the Met Police	Prime Minister David Cameron has asked former Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Elizabeth Filkin to "examine the ethical considerations that should, in future, underpin the relationships between the Metropolitan Police and the media". Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary will also "consider instances of undue influence, inappropriate contractual arrangements and other abuses of power in police relationships with the media and other parties". There will be a review of the Independent Police Complaints Commission and whether it needs new powers to question civilian witnesses and investigate institutional failings	Due to make recommendations in the next few months on ways to restore public confidence in the Met by ensuring "maximum transparency"
Review of media's relationship with Whitehall	David Cameron has asked Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell to ensure that senior civil servants regulate and record contacts with the press	Ongoing
Police investigations - UK and abroad
Operation Weeting	Operation Weeting, led by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers of Scotland Yard, is looking at alleged phone hacking at the NoW. A number of people have been arrested. The number of police officers involved has recently been increased from 45 to 60	Ongoing
Operation Elveden	A second investigation - Operation Elveden - also led by Sue Akers, is looking at e-mails received from NI that allegedly show payments made to police by the NoW	Ongoing
Operation Tuleta	Officers are investigating allegations that computers were hacked to obtain private information. Operation Tuleta will look into claims that a computer belonging to a former army intelligence officer, involved in Northern Ireland security issues, was hacked by a private investigator five years ago. The team has been "scoping" a series of allegations received since January 2011.	Ongoing
FBI investigation	In the US, the FBI has launched an investigation into allegations News Corp journalists sought to hack the phones of the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks and actor Jude Law while he was visiting New York. There are also calls for a US investigation into alleged payments to UK police, which could expose News Corp to charges under US anti-corruption laws	Ongoing
Lawsuits against News International and News Corp
Hacking civil action	A number of high-profile figures have launched legal action against NI over hacking claims. Some have already been awarded out-of-court settlements. Four test cases of alleged victims - including actor Jude Law - are due to be heard at the High Court next year	Ongoing
Shareholders' legal action	News Corporation is being sued by a group of shareholders who allege a failure of corporate governance. The legal action was filed in the US and is an updated version of a previous action, amended to include claims relating to the hacking scandal	Ongoing