Actor, comedian, victim of phone hacking by the News of the World and a leading figure in legal actions against the newspaper. He told the Leveson Inquiry that "lurid" details of his private life appeared in the News of the World after he was set up by that paper's former editor. Coogan gave extensive evidence of intrusive stalking and photographing by the Daily Mirror and Sunday Times. He said he had witnessed journalists rummaging through his rubbish bins. He had also been the victim of several kiss-and-tell stories and detailed how the women in question had been fooled and sometimes bribed into giving stories. At the heart of the problem, he thought, was the lack of accountability on the part of the editors and owners.
British investigative journalist, writer and documentary-maker. Davies has written as a freelance, and for The Guardian and The Observer, and has been named Reporter of the Year, Journalist of the Year and Feature Writer of the Year at the British Press Awards. Davies, with colleague Amelia Hill, broke the phone-hacking story that led to the closure of the News of the World and to the establishing of the Leveson Inquiry. He told Lord Leveson: "I don't think this is an industry that is interested in or capable of self-regulation. The history of the [Press Complaints Commission] undermines the whole concept of self-regulation."
Freelance journalist, consultant and, at the time of the Inquiry, Guardian Readers' Editor. Member of the Ethical Journalism Network and Chair of Concern Worldwide UK. Gave evidence on the role of a Readers’ Editor and on the procedures for correcting errors.
Conservative MP for Surrey Heath and Education Secretary at the time of the Inquiry. A former journalist at the Aberdeen Press and Journal, the Times, the BBC and the Spectator. Told the Inquiry that sometimes "individuals reach for regulation in order to deal with failures of character or morality, and sometimes that regulation is right and appropriate but some of us believe that before the case for regulation is made, the case for liberty needs to be asserted as well".
Andy Hayman was Chief Constable of Norfolk Constabulary and Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations at London's Metropolitan Police, the highest-ranking officer responsible for counter-terrorism in the UK. He was responsible for the investigation into the 7 July 2005 London bombings and was in charge of the initial inquiry into phone hacking by the News of the World. He was appointed CBE in 2006 for his handling of the investigation into the 7/7 London bombings.
A Core Participant in the Inquiry and the former president of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (1993-2009). In 2008, he won a privacy case against the News of the World after it accused him of participating in Nazi-themed orgies. He gave the Leveson Inquiry a full account of his claim against the News of the World and of that paper's continued use of snatched images and its attempt to gather false witness statements. Despite sensationalist reporting, Mosley persisted in his claim, ultimately retaining the confidence of the FIA and being awarded £60,000 for invasion of privacy.
Former Merseyside policeman, who joined the force in 1965 and retired in the rank of Detective Inspector in 1997. Following retirement, Owens served as an investigator with the Data Protection Registrar’s Office (now the Information Commissioner’s Office). While working on an investigation with Devon and Cornwall police, Owens came across bundles of documents of vehicle registrations with personal details. This began the Operation Motorman investigation intended to identify corrupt sources within the DVLA selling or passing on personal details to journalists. Owens gave evidence to the Leveson Inquiry that he and his team had been told not to contact journalists. Owens resigned from his work with the ICO which, he told the Leveson Inquiry, failed in its duty to conduct a full investigation into the conduct of journalists using personal details.
Investigative journalist working for the Daily Mirror. Since 1997, Penman has written a column, originally called Sorted, with various name changes and co-authors over the years, exposing consumer rip-offs and scams run by businesses or individuals. The column has won many awards. Penman gave the Inquiry a detailed account of his methodology, which includes notifying those he writes about before publication.
A solicitor with wide experience in defamation, privacy and media law, Shear gave evidence as a "core participant", telling the Inquiry that in dealing with the press, particularly the tabloid press, he had seen numerous examples of misconduct in pursuit of stories concerning the private lives of well-known individuals. He gave his opinion that understaffed newsrooms were under pressure to find and feature sensational stories and that tabloid journalists had become more aggressive in their methods. He also gave evidence that he had himself been the subject of surveillance.
Founded 2010. Non-profit news organisation based in London. It was established to pursue "public interest" investigations, funded through philanthropy. The Bureau works with publishers and broadcasters to maximise the impact of its investigations. Offered Inquiry evidence on the importance of high standards in investigative journalism.
British non-profit organisation providing training to journalists, researchers, producers and students in the practice and methodology of investigative journalism. Asked the Inquiry to advise on ways of helping good journalism, and recommended instituting a public interest defence and not imposing "prior notification" rules.
Founded 1884. Professional association for journalists and is the senior such body in the UK, and the oldest in the world. It was founded as the National Association of Journalists, to promote and advance the common interests of the profession of journalism.
