Phone hacking: Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson and six others face charges - as it happened | Media

Posted by Jenniffer Sheldon on Sunday, June 30, 2024

6.39pm: Before we close down our Leveson inquiry live blog for one last time this summer, we ought to showcase this marvelous BBC News graphic on 102 days, 474 witnesses and 3.2m carefully-chosen words.

Who was the most forgetful Leveson inquiry witness? BBC News has the answer

Top statistical revelations include what percentage of the total words were spoken by inquiry lead counsel, Robert Jay QC, and how many times the prime minister said "I don't remember," "I don't recall," "I can't remember" or "I can't recall".

Enjoy – and see you after the summer.

5.37pm: The private investigator Glenn Mulcaire has released a statement after being charged in relation to phone hacking. He said:


"I am extremely disappointed by today's decision given that in 2006 I was the subject of a comprehensive police investigation on this matter. I subsequently pleaded guilty and served the prison sentence imposed on me by the court.

"As far as I am aware the police did a thorough investigation at that time. I intend to contest these allegations strenuously."

4.35pm: Neil Wallis, the former excutive editor of the News of the World, is understood to have been rebailed until September in relation to Operation Weeting allegations, reports the Guardian's Lisa O'Carroll.

One of the 13 files sent by Scotland Yard to the CPS for charging advice in relation to allegations of conspiring to intercept communications related to Wallis who was arrested last July.

It is believed the CPS have asked the police for more information in relation to Wallis.

The 61-year-old joined the News of the World from the People in 2003 as deputy editor to the then editor Andy Coulson and in mid-2007 he became executive editor and left the paper in 2009.

Neil Wallis Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

4.30pm: The freelance journalist Terenia Taras, who wrote occasionally for the News of the World, has released a statement after prosecutors said she would face no further action in relation to allegations of phone hacking.

Taras, who was arrested on 23 June 2011, said:

"I have been on police bail for 13 months. It has been incredibly stressful and I'm extremely glad it is now over, with my integrity no longer in question.

"I'm angry that this cost me my job, my income, and my professional reputation was brought into question.

"I have never had any involvement in the deplorable practice of phone hacking and believe I was dragged into the investigation by association and the fact that I'm an investigative journalist who has worked on some very sensitive stories recently.

"I haven't written for newspapers for the past five years whilst I've been establishing myself in broadcast media. Hopefully, now I can get back to doing what I'm passionate about - working on investigative documentaries and current affairs programmes as part of this country's strong journalistic tradition."

4.17pm: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed the names of three journalists who have been told they will face no further action in relation to phone hacking.

They are: Terenia Taras, a freelance journalist who wrote occasionally for the News of the World; Raoul Simons, the former Evening Standard reporter; and Ross Hall, the former News of the World journalist who wrote under the name Ross Hindley.

2.39pm: After 102 days, 470 witnesses and 6,000 pages of evidence, Lord Justice Leveson has drawn his inquiry to a close.

Here are his final remarks:

For most of you, I suppose, the task is now done and you can move on to other productive work. For me and for the team, however, we have only just started.

I will produce a report as soon as I reasonably can. I recognise the urgency of the matter and the need to provide my views for the consideration of the government and all those interested parties speedily, so that decisions can be made as to the way forward.

As I have said, if anything happens over the next months which I feel impacts on the work of the inquiry, I will not hesitate in bringing it up. And if that means that we will end up back in this room, so be it. But, in the meantime, thank you all very much.

2.37pm: The Andy Coulson statement is here:

"I am extremely disappointed by the CPS decision today. I will fight these allegations when they eventually get to court.

"I would like to say one thing today about the Milly Dowler allegation. Anyone who knows me, or who worked with me, would know that I wouldn't, and more importantly that I didn't, do anything to damage the Milly Dowler investigation.

"At the News of the World we worked on behalf of the victims of crime, particularly violent crime, and the idea that I would sit in my office dreaming up schemes to undermine investigations is simply untrue.

"That's all I've got to say today."

2.36pm: The BBC's Dominic Casciani has just tweeted:

Journalists accused of phone hacking will appear at Westminster Mags Court 16 August, says the CPS.

— Dominic Casciani (@BBCDomC) July 24, 2012

2.30pm: Andy Coulson, the former director of communications to the prime minister, has issued a denial after he was charged in relation to phone hacking.

We're trying to get hold of the statement through Coulson's lawyers, but here is the latest from Press Association:

David Cameron's former spin doctor Andy Coulson said today he was "extremely disappointed" by the decision to prosecute him over alleged phone hacking.

Speaking outside his home in south-east London, the ex-News of the World editor said that the now-defunct newspaper had worked on behalf of victims of crime.

He said that he did nothing to damage the investigation into Milly Dowler's murder.

2.21pm: Ian Edmondson, the former News of the World news editor, has released this statement:

For the past 18 months my family and I have suffered in silence. I have not given interviews or spoken out in order to get my points across or to correct reported lies or inaccuracies.

I have much to say on this subject and I now look forward to saying it. I will clear my name at trial when the truth finally emerges.

2.14pm: Davies says the answer to whether politicians ever sold their soul to Murdoch is a "unanimous and vehement 'no'".

He adds that there was no evidence of a deal in News Corp's aborted takeover of BSkyB. There is no evidence either that coverage of the Lib Dems "turned nasty" at any point during the bid, Davies adds.

There was no deal in 1981 [to buy the Times] and there has been no deal since.

2.12pm: Davies turns to claims of implied deals forged between Rupert Murdoch and various senior politicians.

He says the inquiry has raised 12 specific allegations about Murdoch's "implied deals or undue influence" and all have been answered.

Davies says the inquiry has learned that Murdoch "does not trade the support of his newspapers for political or commercial benefit".

2.03pm: All has not been well with the press, Davies says, adding that the Operation Motorman allegations "cannot all be explained away".

Davies says phone hacking at the News of the World was "profoundly wrong and is deeply regretted by News International".

Rhodri Davies QC addresses Leveson inquiry on behalf of News International

1.56pm: Davies says the inquiry has sampled only a "fraction" of the material published by newspapers over the past three decades. Inevitably, he says, these stories are the ones that people complained about.

The News International lawyer says it is difficult to balance the 'good' stories published by newspapers throughout this period with the live, emotive testimony by several star witnesses to the inquiry.

1.54pm: The Leveson inquiry has resumed and Rhodri Davies QC is summing up for News International.

1.41pm: The Labour MP Chris Bryant, who sued News International over phone hacking, has told the Guardian:

People had thought we'd seen it all already. Actually, we're still only at the beginning of Act 5. It's not until all these prosecutions are completed that we'll know the full truth.

Evan Harris, one of the founding members of the Hacked Off campaign, which has represented victims of press intrusion at the Leveson inquiry, said it was now important for justice to run its course.

"The significance of this is that these cases will now come to court in a reasonable time, which is reassuring given the fear that this would drag on for years," he told the Guardian.

"What the victims have always wanted is for the whole truth to come out.

"That will only be done from part two of the [Leveson] inquiry, which David Sherborne [the victims' barrister] said today must still go ahead."

1.10pm: Neville Thurlbeck, the former News of the World chief reporter, has issued a denial after being charged with conspiracy to intercept voicemail messages earlier today.

12.51pm: Labour leader Ed Miliband has said on the phone-hacking charges:

Everybody was very shocked at the revelations of the hacking of Milly Dowler's phone. We said at the time we needed to get to the bottom of what had happened. It is now right that justice takes its course. This is now a matter for the courts.

12.43pm: Andy Coulson is to make a statement at 2.15pm on the phone-hacking charges.

The BBC's Dominic Casciani has tweeted:

Andy Coulson to make statement later today.

— Dominic Casciani (@BBCDomC) July 24, 2012

It is also understood that Ian Edmondson and Neville Thurlbeck are preparing respective statements.

12.40pm: The inquiry breaks for lunch, to return at 1.50pm with News International.

12.40pm: Rusbridger says the inquiry has mirrored the public and purpose of public interest journalism at its best.

He has now completed his closing submission.

12.36pm: Many of the abuses uncovered by the inquiry would not have happened if News Corp had not enjoyed such dominance, Rusbridger says.

Natalie Peck, the Hacked Off reporter, tweets:

Rusbridger: Remain committed to independent regulation, would be part of Black/Hunt reforms. Have reservations about servings eds. #Leveson

— Natalie Peck (@nataliepeck) July 24, 2012

12.34pm: Rusbridger says the new press regulator should have the ability to deal with libel and privacy claims through an arbitral system.

Leveson inquiry: Alan Rusbridger

12.29pm: Alan Rusbridger, the editor of the Guardian, is making his final submissions to the Leveson inquiry.

Lisa O'Carroll, our media correspondent, has just tweeted:

Rusbridger: the guardian brought into public light one of the most repugnant instances of phone hacking - Milly Dowler #leveson

— lisa o'carroll (@lisaocarroll) July 24, 2012

and:

Rusbridger: over the 3 years if Guardian investigation, both Nick Davies and I have met many examples of people who live in fear of NI

— lisa o'carroll (@lisaocarroll) July 24, 2012

12.12pm: Prosecutors are to charge eight people, including Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks, in connection with the phone-hacking scandal at the News of the World, reports the Guardian's Vikram Dodd.

Coulson, a former aide to the prime minister and ex-editor of the defunct Sunday tabloid, and Brooks, News International's former chief executive, will face charges in connection with the hacking of the phone of the murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

Read the full story here.

Each of the eight, with the exception of Glenn Mulcaire, will be charged with conspiring to intercept communications without lawful authority, from 3 October 2000 to 9 August 2006.

In addition, each will face a number of further charges of conspiracy unlawfully to intercept communications, as follows:

Rebekah Brooks will face two additional charges:

• the first relates to the voicemails of the late Milly Dowler
• the second to the voicemails of Andrew Gilchrist

Andrew Coulson will face four additional charges, relating to the following victims:

• Milly Dowler
• the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP
• the Rt Hon Charles Clarke, and
• Calum Best

Stuart Kuttner will face two additional charges, relating to:

• Milly Dowler and
• the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP

Greg Miskiw will face nine further charges, relating to the following victims or groups of victims:

• Milly Dowler
• Sven-Goran Eriksson
• Abigail Titmuss and John Leslie
• Andrew Gilchrist
• the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP
• Delia Smith
• the Rt Hon Charles Clarke
• Jude Law, Sadie Frost and Sienna Miller, and
• Wayne Rooney

Ian Edmondson will face a further eleven charges, relating to the following victims or groups of victims:

• the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP
• the Rt Hon Charles Clarke
• Jude Law, Sadie Frost and Sienna Miller
• Mark Oaten
• Wayne Rooney
• Calum Best
• the Rt Hon Dame Tessa Jowell MP and David Mills
• the Rt Hon Lord Prescott
• Professor John Tulloch
• Lord Frederick Windsor
• Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills

Neville Thurlbeck
will face a further seven charges in relation to the following victims or groups of victims:

• Milly Dowler
• Sven-Goran Eriksson
• the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP
• the Rt Hon Charles Clarke
• Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
• Mark Oaten
• the Rt Hon Dame Tessa Jowell MP and David Mills

James Weatherup will face a further seven charges in relation to the following victims or groups of victims:

• the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP
• the Rt Hon Charles Clarke
• Jude Law, Sadie Frost and Sienna Miller
• Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
• Wayne Rooney
• the Rt Hon Lord Prescott
• Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills

For legal reasons, Glenn Mulcaire does not face the first of these charges. However, he will face four charges, relating to:

• Milly Dowler
• Andrew Gilchrist
• Delia Smith, and
• the Rt Hon Charles Clarke

11.45am: Rebekah Brooks, the former News International chief executive, has issued a statement on the phone-hacking charges. She said:

I am not guilty of these charges. I did not authorise, nor was I aware of, phone hacking under my editorship. I am distressed and angry that the CPS have reached this decision when they knew all the facts and were in a position to stop the case at this stage. The charge concerning Milly Dowler is particularly upsetting not only as it is untrue but also because I have spent my journalistic career campaigning for victims of crime. I will vigorously defend these allegations.

11.33am: Here is a summary of the CPS announcement:

• Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson and five other former News of the World journalists, plus the private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, charged over phone hacking.

• Six ex-News of the World employees, including Brooks and Coulson, face charges of conspiracy to intercept Milly Dowler's voicemail messages.

• The eight charged are: Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson, Stuart Kuttner, Glenn Mulcaire, Greg Miskiw, Ian Edmondson, Neville Thurlbeck and James Weatherup.

• Seven of those charged (all except Mulcaire) accused of six-year conspiracy to intercept voicemail messages of more than 600 high-profile people.

• Neville Thurlbeck, the former News of the World chief reporter, and James Weatherup, the ex-assistant news editor, charged on suspicion of conspiracy to intercept the voicemails of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

• CPS announce three others will not face charges. Prosecutors defer decision on two other suspects.

11.14am: Here is the full charge sheet from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS):

CHARGE 1

Rebekah Brooks, Andrew Coulson, Stuart Kuttner, Greg Miskiw, Ian Edmondson, Neville Thurlbeck and James Weatherup, between the 3rd day of October 2000 and the 9th day of August 2006 conspired together, and with Glenn Mulcaire and Clive Goodman and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of well-known people and those associated with them, including but not limited to those whose names appear on schedule 1.

CHARGE 2

Rebekah Brooks, Andrew Coulson, Stuart Kuttner, Glenn Mulcaire, Greg Miskiw and Neville Thurlbeck, between the 9th day of April 2002 and the 21st day of April 2002, conspired together and with persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Amanda Dowler, also known as Milly Dowler.

CHARGE 3

Greg Miskiw and Neville Thurlbeck, between 13th day of May 2002 and the 29th day of June 2006, conspired together and with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Sven-Goran Eriksson and persons associated with Sven-Goran Eriksson, including Faria Alam.

CHARGE 4

Greg Miskiw between the 22nd day of October 2002 and the 21st day of July 2006, conspired with Glenn Mulcaire and with persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Abigail Titmuss and John Leslie and those associated with Abigail Titmuss and John Leslie, including Matthew McGuiness..

CHARGE 5

Rebekah Brooks, Glenn Mulcaire and Greg Miskiw, between the 3rd day of December 2002 and the 22nd day of January 2003, conspired together and with persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Andrew Gilchrist.

CHARGE 6

Andrew Coulson, Stuart Kuttner, Greg Miskiw, Ian Edmondson, Neville Thurlbeck and James Weatherup, between the 1st day of January 2004 and the 29th day of July 2006, conspired together and with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of persons associated with The Right Honourable David Blunkett MP, including some or all of the following: Kimberley Quinn, Sally King (nee Anderson), Andrew King, John Anderson and Jason Carey

CHARGE 7

Glenn Mulcaire and Greg Miskiw, between the 28th day of February 2005 and the 12th day of March 2005 conspired together and with persons unknown to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Delia Smith and of persons associated with Delia Smith, including Michael Wynn-Jones and Ian Christmas.

CHARGE 8

Andrew Coulson, Glenn Mulcaire, Greg Miskiw, Ian Edmondson, Neville Thurlbeck and James Weatherup, between the 6h day of April 2005 and the 22nd day of June 2005, conspired together and with persons unknown to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of persons associated with The Right Honourable Charles Clarke, who included either or both of the following: Hannah Pawlby and Lucy Pawlby.

CHARGE 9

Greg Miskiw, Ian Edmondson and James Weatherup between the 1st day of July 2005 and the 1st day of June 2006, conspired together, and with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Jude Law and persons associated with Jude Law, Sadie Frost and Sienna Miller, who included some or all of the following: Jade Schmidt, Archie Keswick and Ben Jackson.

CHARGE 10

Neville Thurlbeck and James Weatherup, between the 5th day of July 2005 and the 4th day of May 2006, conspired together, and with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of persons associated with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who included Eunice Huthart.

CHARGE 11

Ian Edmondson and Neville Thurlbeck, between the 9th day of January 2006 and the 6th day of May 2006, conspired together and with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Mark Oaten.

CHARGE 12

Ian Edmondson and James Weatherup, between the 17th day of January 2006 and the 1st day of August 2006, conspired together, and with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Wayne Rooney and persons associated with Wayne Rooney, who included either or both of the following: Laura Jane Rooney and Patricia Tierney.

CHARGE 13

Greg Miskiw, between the 17th day of January 2006 and 1st day of August 2006 conspired with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Wayne Rooney and persons associated with Wayne Rooney, who included either or both of the following: Laura Jane Rooney and Patricia Tierney

CHARGE 14

Andrew Coulson and Ian Edmondson, between the 23 March 2006 and the 21st day of May 2006, conspired together and with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Calum Best.

CHARGE 15

Ian Edmondson and Neville Thurlbeck between the 2nd day of March 2006 and the 26th day of July 2006, conspired with Greg Mulcaire and with persons unknown to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of The Right Honourable Dame Tessa Jowell MP and David Mills

CHARGE 16

Ian Edmondson and James Weatherup, between the 24th day of April 2006 and the 22nd day of June 2006, conspired together and with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of persons associated with The Right Honourable Lord Prescott, who included some or all of the following: Tracey Temple, Joan Hammell and Alan Schofield

CHARGE 17

Ian Edmondson, between the 25th day of April 2006 and the 15th day of May 2006, conspired with Glenn Mulcaire and with persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Professor John Tulloch and persons associated with Professor John Tulloch, who included some or all of the following: John Davies, Maire Messenger Davies and Janet Andrew.

CHARGE 18

Ian Edmondson, between the 25th day of April 2006 and the 1st day of June 2006, conspired with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Lord Fredrick Windsor.


CHARGE 19

Ian Edmondson and James Weatherup, between the 15th day of May 2006 and the 29th day of June 2006, conspired together and with Glenn Mulcaire and with persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, and of persons associated with Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, including some or all of the following: Fiona Mills, Stuart Bell, Alan Edwards and Chris Terrill.

11.07am: A total of eight out of the 13 people arrested on suspicion of phone hacking will face charges.

A further three people on police bail over hacking allegations have not been charged. The decision relating to two others has been deferred, the CPS has said.

The eight individuals to face charges are: Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson, Stuart Kuttner, Glenn Mulcaire, Greg Miskew, Ian Edmondson, Neville Thurlbeck and James Weatherup.

11.07am: Andy Coulson, Rebekah Brooks and Neville Thurlbeck all face charges related to the alleged hacking of Milly Dowler's mobile telephone.

11.03am: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced that Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson, Glenn Mulcaire and Neville Thurlbeck will face charges relating to phone hacking.

10.58am: Trinity Mirror's Sly Bailey said she was only interested in a forward looking approach, Sherborne says, adding:

Who can blame Trinity Mirror for only looking forward, who on earth would want to look back?

10.55am: Sherborne says of the press response to allegations of illegality:

What we have seen is a culture of plausible deniability rather than openness and candour. A culture of cover-up rather than clean-up. We say it is an example of what is prevalent across the board.

It is not credible for the press to claim they were unaware that information they were buying from Steve Whittamore was obtained lawfully, he adds.

10.51am: Scotland Yard detectives on Operation Weeting have done much to restore the trust of the public, Sherborne says. He describes Weeting as a "damage limitation exercise" caused by the earlier investigations.

He ends by saying that evidence heard by the inquiry has demonstrated the importance of plurality and checks on media power.

Right at the heart of the problems is perhaps a failure of governance. It is not the journalists that are to blame, or even the editors: it starts right at the top.

He describes Paul McMullan as the "tabloid world's guilty pleasure" and the "parody of a tabloid journalist", but that he is an example of the footsoldier overseen by his generals.

10.39am: There was a "nauseating closeness" between certain police officers and members of the press, Sherborne says.

He questions whether Scotland Yard closed its earlier phone-hacking investigations because of resources, adding:

By sealing up the cave they allowed News Group to escape the full consequences of the criminality and peddle the lie of one rogue reporter. They failed the victims.

He adds that Operation Motorman and Operation Glade are "another blot on the copybook" of the authorities.

10.38am: Lord Justice Leveson asks whether Sherborne believes the tabloid press "commodify" people in the news.

Sherborne says he would put it higher than that. The press "dehumanise" those in the news, he claims.

The very real damage they are doing to people, particular the McCanns, this lasted months and months despite the fact the McCanns were begging the PCC and anyone else who would listen to stop this kind of reporting ... [It is a] failure to take into account the human dimension of these stories which were just too good to resist.

He moves on to address relations between the press and police.

10.35am: Tabloid newspapers are guilty of "blackmail, intimidation, doorstepping, harassment," Sherborne tells the inquiry.

He rubbishes the proposal of a "no shoot" list for the paparazzi, saying: "There is not a piece of paper which will stop them, let alone a voluntary one".

10.28am: Was phone hacking "hermetically sealed" inside the News of the World? "Of course it wasn't," Sherborne claims.

It was so widespread it was an in-joke between the editors of the Sun and the Daily Mirror at an awards ceremony.

He says Leveson has seen enough evidence that "everybody knew it was going on throughout the late nineties and 2000s and at best turned a blind eye to it". It was part of tabloid culture, part of the armory of the popular press, he adds.

In a dog eat dog world where rival titles fight a constant battle, the deafening silence of the tabloid newspapers in the face of News Group's criminality speaks volumes.

10.20am: Sienna Miller was one of the first to take on the might of News International with her groundbreaking phone-hacking claim, Sherborne says.

He adds that journalists and photographers who followed Miller as having a "license to carry a weapon", rather than a license for free expression.

While there are those who vehemently deplore the hacking of Milly Dowler's voicemails ... there seems to be less sympathy with people like Sienna Miller, they will always be seen as whingeing celebrities. Remember this she was one of the first to take on the weight of News International ... Unlike the police or politicians she was not scared to take on News Group.

He praises "good journalists like Nick Davies and others" which led to the "rubbishing" of the suggestion from News International that phone hacking was the work of one rogue reporter.

10.14am: Sherborne refers to coverage of the McCanns, highlighting the News of the World front page based on Kate's diary.

He says Kate and Gerry have "had to listen while a succession of journalists had to come here to justify their woeful journalism".

Turning to Bob and Sally Dowler, whose private grief he says was "turned into a photo opportunity" by the News of the World.

10.14am: Bob Dowler, the father of Milly, is in court next to Mark Lewis, the solicitor for several phone-hacking victims.

The Hacked Off campaigner, Thais Portilho-Shrimpton, has just tweeted:

I hear Bob Dowler, Mary-Ellen Field and Tom Rowland are some of the victims in court for Sherborne's closing speech #Leveson

— T Portilho-Shrimpton (@Selkie) July 24, 2012

10.12am: The voice of the victims has often been lost in the eight months of the Leveson inquiry, Sherborne says.

He adds:

The media have had one eye on what has gone on here and the fact the spotlight is so intensely on them, but nothing has in fact changed.

Sherborne urges Leveson to take a "very firm grip of the tabloid press". He says that the press will be back in the same position as soon as the inquiry has finished and the ink has dried on Leveson's report.

We are all concerned it might be payback time against those who have sought to stand up against newspapers ... We have already seen signs of this throughout this inquiry.

10.05am: Sherborne says the hacking of Milly Dowler's mobile phone was the "final straw in a groundswell" of public opinion which saw the press as being out of control.

The answer to this public concern is "not to be found in the increase in press freedom," he says.

We are not here to focus on the good journalists ... we're here to consider the bad ones, or the bad examples of journalism, and what they show about the culture, practice and ethics of the press as a whole.

Sherborne adds: "The press is on trial here. Not only in this room, but out there in the court of public opinion".

10.03am: The inquiry has begun.

David Sherborne, on behalf of the victims of press intrusion, is on his feet for his final submissions.

9.50am: Good morning and welcome to the Leveson inquiry live blog.

Today we will bring you the latest from the inquiry and, from 11am, news from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on whether 11 former News of the World journalists will face charges in connection with the phone-hacking scandal.

Andy Coulson, the former communications director to the prime minister, is among 13 individuals who will be told whether they face charges over alleged voicemail interception.

Those under CPS examination have not officially been identified by name, although journalists who have been arrested and remain on police bail include Coulson and Rebekah Brooks, both former editors of the paper. Neville Thurlbeck, its former chief reporter, confirmed he was among those whose files had been passed to the CPS.

We will cover the CPS announcement live from 11am.

From 10am, we will be at the Royal Courts of Justice where Alan Rusbridger, editor of the Guardian, will make his closing statements to the Leveson inquiry along with three other newspaper groups and the victims of press intrusion.

David Sherborne
, the barrister for the group of victims who include the parents of Madeleine McCann and celebrities such as Hugh Grant and Sienna Miller, is expected to make his closing submission from 10am. He will be followed by lawyers from Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail, then Rusbridger of the Guardian, followed by lawyers for News International, the publisher of the Sun and now-closed News of the World.

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