A REPORTER WITH the Guardian newspaper has been questioned by police investigating the leaking of information pertaining to the Metropolitan Police’s investigation into phone hacking by the News of the World.
Amelia Hill, who has broken a series of stories naming people who have been arrested as part of the hacking investigation, was questioned for several hours hours after attending a London police station by appointment, according to The Times (subscription).
It follows concerns raised by solicitors representing those arrested as part of police inquiries that their clients’ names were being released into the public domain.
In August, a Scotland Yard detective was arrested on suspicion of leaking information.
The Guardian confirmed the questioning of Hill in a statement saying that it had taken place several days ago: “We can confirm Amelia Hill has been questioned in connection with an investigation into alleged leaks.”
Sky News correspondent Martin Brunt, who broke the story, quotes the Guardian as stating its concern at the development: ”Journalists would no doubt be concerned if police sought to criminalise conversations between off-record sources and reporters.”
Guardian journalist Nick Davies who has uncovered much of the phone hacking scandal at the News of the World said in a tweet this afternoon: “Scotland Yard trying to use criminal law to restrict reporting of their own activity.”
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