Former Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, Akers joined the force in 1976 and retired at the end of 2012, having led Operation Weeting, investigating the News International phone-hacking scandal, and the related Operations Elveden and Tuleta, respectively investigating inappropriate payments to police officers and other public officials and computer hacking. Akers was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in 2007 and appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to policing.
Served as Suffolk’s Chief Constable. Joined police force in 1982 and retired in 2012. He provided evidence on Suffolk police department’s involvement and relationship with the press.
A police officer for 34 years, Ian Blair served as Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, head of London's Metropolitan Police Service. He testified regarding his personal relationship with the media and as head of the police force. He gave detailed evidence of how relations between the media and police were conducted. Resigned in 2008 and became a peer in 2010. Lord Blair noted that the culture prevailing during his time as Commissioner was very different from the culture at the time of the Inquiry.
Former chief executive of Security Industry Authority industry, the private-security industry regulator, from 2009 until his retirement in 2015. Previously held post of director of corporate services at the Gambling Commission.
Paul Condon joined the police in 1967, becoming Chief Constable of Kent in 1988 and Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in 1993, aged 45, the youngest person to do so at that time, before stepping down in 2000. Answered questions at the Inquiry on his corruption strategy during his time at the Met.
Born 1948. Now retired, Crawford started work in Home Office and moved to the Police Department in 1992. She was appointed Chief Executive of Metropolitan Police Authority in 2000 and presented 37 pieces of evidence to the Inquiry.
Chief Crime Correspondent of the Daily Mirror, having worked on national papers and TV since 1992. Also Chairman of the Crime Reporters' Association and an Associate Lecturer at the Police Staff College at Bramshill, Hants. Gave evidence on the CRA and its function in promoting understanding between police and journalists.
A former editor of the South Wales Evening Post and, at the time of giving evidence, editor-in-chief of South West Wales Media. Told the Inquiry that he believed that it was the intention of the Northcliffe Group to be part of any statutory arrangements but that he had concerns that Black's proposals gave insufficient attention to online-only publications. He also stressed that the behaviour of some national papers was not replicated in the regional press, as was evident from the submissions made to the Inquiry.
Retired High Court judge at time of Inquiry, who had specialised in intellectual property, copyright, privacy and defamation cases. A specialist adviser to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Privacy and Injunctions, he advised the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee on its Report on Press Standards, Privacy and Libel. Sir Charles was also the founder of Early Resolution, an organisation set up to help litigants locked in libel disputes resolve differences quickly, fairly and at low cost. His Inquiry evidence on Early Resolution broadened into discussion of an Early Resolution model becoming the basis for a post-publication regulatory system with statutory foundation. Sir Charles also served as adjudicator in lawsuits against News Group Newspapers brought by people whose phones were hacked by the group.
Press Association (PA) Editor at the time of the Inquiry, having worked for the PA since 1979, first as a reporter, then as Editor. He was appointed Professional Chair in the Department of Journalism Studies at the University of Sheffield in 2015. Gave evidence on the operation and ethical standards of PA and its strict codes on sourcing. Grun pronounced strong support for continued press self-regulation.
Former Metropolitan Police officer who joined the Service in 1977, later becoming a Detective Constable. Hames presented BBC's Crimewatch between 1990 and 2006. She took early retirement from the MPS in January 2008. She gave evidence of press intrusion, including being targeted by Glenn Mulcaire of the News of the World and followed by private investigators also working for that paper.
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.
Former English police officer and head of London's Metropolitan Police from 2011 to 2017. Hogan-Howe was knighted in the 2013 New Year’s Honours for his services to policing. Gave evidence on the Met’s relationship with the Press. Told the Inquiry of a “clear need to review existing procedures”.
Retired senior Scottish police officer, House was the first Chief Constable of Police Scotland, appointed October 2012. Awarded Queen's Police Medal in 2005 for distinguished service and knighted in 2013 for services to law and order. Gave evidence on procedures and relationship with the press in Strathclyde.
Journalist, author and Investigations Executive Editor of The Guardian at the time of the Inquiry. Gave evidence on sources and responsibility to protect them and on the Guardian’s ethical and anti-bribery and corruption policies.
Ken MacDonald was a former Director of Public Prosecutions of England and Wales and head of the Crown Prosecution Service. He was previously a Recorder (part-time judge) and defence barrister. A Liberal Democrat life peer, he gave evidence on the early Metropolitan Police investigation into phone-hacking.
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990 to 1997, following stints as Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Thatcher Government. Had retired from politics at time of giving evidence, having been MP for Huntingdon from 1979 to 2001. He told the Inquiry that in a private meeting before the 1997 general election, Rupert Murdoch had pressed for the Conservative Government to alter policy regarding the EU or risk losing the support of his papers. In the event, The Sun did back Labour in the 1997 election. While characterising the UK press as a whole as a "curate's egg", Major told the Inquiry he believed The Sun had "lowered the tone" of public life. He believed newspaper proprietors should be "personally liable" for articles in their newspapers, not able to "wash their hands" of alleged wrongdoing by individual reporters.
Former Assistant Chief Constable in Devon and Cornwall Police, Middleton worked on local investigations, Major Crime, and Serious and Organised Crime. He gave evidence on Operation Reproof, a police inquiry into corruption at Devon and Cornwall police.
Chief Inspector of Constabulary (May 2009 to July 2012) at the time of giving evidence; previously Chief Constable of Surrey Police (2000-2004) during the investigation into Milly Dowler's death in 2002. Sir Denis told the Inquiry that following an article in The Guardian in July 2009 alleging widespread phone hacking at the News of The World, he had recommended an "independent review" to the Home Office – but reported that there was "no appetite" for this from officials, including then Home Secretary Alan Johnson.
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.
