At the time of the Inquiry, crime reporter and desk editor at The Guardian and Observer. Prior to working with The Guardian, Laville had worked for the Evening Standard and Daily Telegraph, covering major home and foreign news stories. Gave evidence concerning changing relations between Metropolitan Police and the media, from tight controls under Sir Paul Condon to a more informal relationship under Sir John Stevens. However, following the phone-hacking scandal, tensions between the media and the Met had become great, she said. Described practices maintaining contact and the importance of journalism being able to hold police to account.
John Prescott is a former Deputy Prime Minister (1997-2007) who represented Hull East as Labour MP from 1970 to 2010. Submitted "A New Regulatory Framework", a paper on the press drawn up by a Prescott-led working group, to the Inquiry.
A former MP, Cabinet Minister and chairman of the Environment Agency, Chris Smith was Culture Secretary from 1997 to 2001. He gave evidence of his hope for strengthened self-regulation and also on the change of public perception towards the media in the wake of the death of Princess Diana and his belief then in the need to consider specific action against the paparazzi.
Activist for the Occupy London movement, which had camped outside St Paul's Cathedral until evicted in February 2012. The movement campaigned for a new political and economic system that would put people, democracy and the environment before profit. He spelt out his reasons for occupying and objected to the press's use of the term "anti-capitalist"; personally, he said, he was anti-neoliberal, anti-corruption and pro-ecological, but not anti-capitalist.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Farming, Food and the Marine Environment as part of Prime Minister David Cameron's Cabinet reshuffle in October 2013. Had been Conservative Party Head of Media under Michael Howard for 18 months to May 2005 and Press Secretary to David Cameron until the end of October 2007.
