According to the latest bit of news leaked from the investigation into the News of the World’s phone hacking scandal, it is alleged that a private investigator hacked into Milly Dowler’s phone and even deleted messages to make space for more messages. Whilst listening to the phone messages of celebrities is one thing – not a good thing, but sort of understandable – this is well beyond the pale.
Didn’t anyone at the News of the World stop and think for a moment ? Apparently not, which goes to show that everyone at the News of the World at the time must share responsibility in this sordid example of what happens when you give the gutter press a free hand. It’s time to take serious action on this :-
- Drive the News of the World out of business. Easily done – everyone should refuse to buy a single copy of the newspaper. Even if you like the gutter press, buy something else. And sneer at everyone who does buy a copy. And well done to Ford who have pulled ads from News of the World – lets see more of that!
- Get the investigation into this into the hands of a police force who don’t care and don’t need the co-operation of the London-based press. One of the Scottish forces would work quite well. And tell them there’s no need to be gentle.
- Prosecute, prosecute, prosecute. Those responsible should be in jail. This isn’t a freedom of the press issue – this is blatant interference in a serious police investigation.