At the time the weekly had argued that it was an isolated skid

Loans at all. The latest scandal involving the weekly "news of the world" is once again highlight the techniques of investigation for the less invasive of a certain British press. It is the "Guardian" - labour newspaper - which revealed the case involving its conservative rival, leader election with 3 million copies distributed.

The "Guardian" accuses the weekly into the fold of the Murdoch group of pirated, in 2006, the mobile phones of "thousands" of personalities from politics, sport or entertainment, the coach of Manchester United, Alex Ferguson, former Deputy Minister, John Prescott. News International, the holding company owner also of the "Sun" and the "Times", replied, this weekend, challenging used this method of how to "systematic".

There was indeed a precedent. One of the editors of "news of the world", Clive Goodman, had been imprisoned in 2007 for listening with the help of a private investigator telephone messaging of the staff of the princes William and Harry. At the time, the weekly had argued that it was an isolated skid. This weekend, News International conceded however have entered into a transaction with Gordon Taylor, head of the Federation of professional players, which had dragged the Sunday tabloid the courts on the same grievances. The "Guardian" $ 1 million of books the moneys paid, including Gordon Taylor, by the press group in exchange for abandonment of the prosecution and the confidentiality of these agreements.

Relayed by the BBC

So far, London police ensures not to find material to reopen its investigation, dating from the Goodman case. But the pressure to shed light on these new charges monte especially Andy Coulson, former Director of the writing of "News of the World", forced to resign after the scandal two years and a half, is now Director of the communication of David Cameron, leader of the conservative party and possible future Prime Minister. However, the "Guardian" assiduously sounds the charge, in part by the BBC, folder makes evil uncomfortable the rest of the British press.

In 2006, the Information Commissioner's Office had published a report damning the "Daily Mail", the "Daily Mirror" but also the respectable "observe" ("guardian" weekly): the equivalent of the National Commission on Informatics and freedom had identified thousands of total cases where British newspapers had used information obtained by illegal means, including through the "blagging" where "an individual claims to be someone else to obtain the information it is seeking".

This can range from the journalist of the "News of the World" which disguise in Sheikh to trap his interlocutors of the "Daily Mirror" who had been recruited on the basis of a false v. V. to work at Buckingham. In the case of interceptions of voice messaging, the "blagger" wrong the telephone company to obtain the access codes. Where the imaginative investigation stops and begins the illegality Often reflects opinion considers that the end justifies the means. The "Daily Telegraph" did not hesitate, in the spring, to buy listings on the expenses of the members. Given the scope of these revelations, the police is not likely to go investigate to find out if these documents had been obtained unlawfully.