View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Media Law
July 8, 2011

Former NoW editor Andy Coulson arrested

By PA Media Lawyer

Former Downing Street communications chief Andy Coulson was arrested today on suspicion of phone hacking and corruption.

The 43-year-old ex-editor of the News of the World was held at a south London police station this morning, sources said.

A Scotland Yard statement said: “The MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) has this morning arrested a member of the public in connection with allegations of corruption and phone hacking.

“The man, aged 43, was arrested by appointment at a south London police station. He is currently in custody.”

He was held at 10.30am by detectives investigating Operation Elveden – the inquiry into payments to police by the News of the World – and Operation Weeting, the long-running hacking investigation.

After arriving by appointment at the station, he was held on suspicion of “conspiring to intercept communications” and “corruption allegations contrary to Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906”.

UPDATE 8/7/11 1.07pm:

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Former News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman has been arrested in connection with alleged payments to police.

Goodman and the NoW’s full-time investigator for the paper Glenn Mulcaire were jailed for intercepting mobile phone voicemail messages to find stories in January 2007.

The 53 year-old is being held for questioning at a police station in south London.

Goodman – who currently works for the Daily Star Sunday – was held after a dawn swoop by officers at his home in Surrey.

Detectives are searching both Coulson’s address in Forest Hill, south London, and Goodman’s property.

Officers investigating Operation Elveden – the inquiry into payments to police by the News of the World – and Operation Weeting, the long-running hacking investigation, are questioning the pair.

Referring to Goodman’s arrest, a Scotland Yard statement said: “At 6.11am officers from the MPS’ Operation Weeting together with officers from Operation Elveden arrested a man on suspicion of corruption allegations in contravention of Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906.

“The man, aged 53, was arrested at a residential address in Surrey. A search is ongoing at this address.”

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network