Former News of the World executive editor Neil Wallis has blasted the Metropolitan Police after it was revealed that it has spent an “incredible” £19.5m on operations Weeting, Elveden and Tuleta.

Wallis said the money could have been better spent on fighting more “serious” crimes such as murder, rape, terrorism and paedophilia.

He was reacting to Freedom of Information figures obtained by Press Gazette showing that as of the end of January this year £11.2m had been spent on the Operation Weeting hacking inquiry, £5m on Elveden (bribes) and £1.3m on Tuleta (computer hacking).