Hacked off response to 'hacking' trial verdicts so far

The guilty verdict on Andy Coulson for hacking, and the five guilty pleas including from three senior news editors, shows that Rupert Murdoch’s company has been involved in an extensive criminal conspiracy to hack phones and the only way to protect the British public from press abuse in the future is for his newspapers to now adopt the Leveson recommendations in full.

The one rogue reporter line from Mr Murdoch's company was clearly a cover-up and that is not acceptable. Following today’s phone hacking trial verdicts, victims of phone hacking and press abuse today called on Murdoch’s News UK newspapers to abandon their plan to create and hide behind IPSO – their deceitful replacement for the Press Complaints Commission - and accept robust self-regulation under the Royal Charter.

Brian Cathcart, Executive Director of Hacked Off, said: “For years the Murdoch press clung to the story that one rogue reporter was responsible for phone hacking. We now know this was a lie. Far from being an isolated incident involving a few ‘bad apples’, the trial has shown that the entire orchard was rotten. The trial also shone a light on the appalling, systemic newsroom culture of bullying, lies, intimidation and intrusion that has devastated the lives of many people. From royalty and Cabinet ministers to victims of crime and bereaved families, nobody was safe.”

Victims of phone hacking reacted to the verdict.

Tom Rowland who gave evidence at Leveson, said: “Has Rupert Murdoch done what is necessary to guarantee that this institutionalised press abuse won’t happen again? No he hasn’t – and nothing will work short of the changes demanded by the Leveson Inquiry and backed by all parties in Parliament.”

Joan Smith, a hacking victim and journalist said: "Three years ago, Rupert Murdoch talked about the 'most humble day' of his life. That was before the hacking trial revealed a culture of intrusion and bad practice at one of his biggest-selling newspapers, resulting in the conviction for hacking of the man he chose to edit the News of the World. We now know that a title which boasted about exposing criminals was actually breaking the law itself, and flouting the ethics of decent journalism. I wonder how Mr Murdoch feels today, and whether he will acknowledge that a failure of governance on this scale can be addressed only by the kind of independent press regulation recommended by Lord Justice Leveson."

Mike Hollngsworth added: “How many Inquiries or criminal court cases will it take before Rupert Murdoch and all newspapers demonstrate to the British public that they are capable of remorse, accept that things must change and take action to put things right? The British press must show some humility and accept Leveson-style independent scrutiny of their regulatory system. And they must stop delaying and do this now.”

Leading figures sign declaration backing Royal Charter on press self-regulation

More than a hundred prominent people from literature, the arts, science, academia, human rights and the law have come together with victims of past press abuse to launch a Declaration in support of the Royal Charter on press self-regulation. Signatories to the Declaration, unveiled on the anniversary of the Leveson report, urge newspapers to embrace the Royal Charter system, safeguarding the press from political interference and giving vital protection to the vulnerable. The Declaration states:

• "We believe that a free press is a cornerstone of democracy. It should be fearless in exposing corruption, holding the powerful to account and championing the powerless. It has nothing to lose, and can only be enhanced, by acknowledging unethical practice in its midst and acting firmly to ensure it is not repeated."
• "We also believe that editors and journalists will rise in public esteem when they accept a form of self-regulation that is independently audited on the lines recommended by Lord Justice Leveson and laid down in the Royal Charter of 30 October 2013." 
• "It is our view that this Charter safeguards the press from political interference while also giving vital protection to the vulnerable. That is why we support it and that is why we urge newspaper publishers to embrace it."

The Declaration has been co-ordinated and published by Hacked Off, the campaign for a free and accountable press, funded by members of the public responding to a Hacked Off appeal.

Commenting on the launch of the Declaration, Prof Brian Cathcart said, “Leading figures in free expression and this country’s cultural life, like the public, are expecting change in the conduct of the press and are backing the Royal Charter as the only credible way to deliver it. It is time for newspaper publishers to put aside groundless claims of a threat to free expression, embrace the improvements offered under the Royal Charter system and rebuild the public’s trust.”

Signatories to the Declaration include:

• Margaret Aspinall – Hillsborough family press victim
• Bryan Adams - Musician
• Riz Ahmed - Actor and musician
• Monica Ali - Writer
• Yasmin Alibhai-Brown - Journalist and author
• Lisa Appignanesi - Author
• Michael Apted - Film director
• Neal Ascherson - Journalist and author
• Sir Alan Ayckbourn CBE - Playwright
• Clare Balding OBE - Broadcaster
• Antony Beevor – Writer
• Helen Belcher - Transmediawatch
• Alan Bennett - Writer
• Sophie Bennett - Acting Director, UK Feminista
• Patricia Bernal – Mother of murder victim and press victim
• Anthony Bernal – Brother of murder victim and press victim
• Sir Geoffrey Bindman QC - Human Rights Lawyer
• John Bishop - Comedian
• Prof Colin Blakemore - scientist and broadcaster
• James Blunt - Musician
• John Bowers QC - Employment silk
• William Boyd - Writer
• Rory Bremner FKC - impressionist, playwright and comedian
• Marcus Brigstocke - Comedian
• Peter Burden – Media Author
• Guy Chambers - Record Producer
• John Cleese – Comedian & Python
• Dr Madeleine Coy - Deputy Director, Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit,London Metropolitan University
• Prof James Curran - Professor of Communications, Goldsmiths, University of London
• Paul Dadge – 7/7 first responder and press victim
• Stephen Daldry – Producer and director
• Nick Davies - Investigative journalist, writer and documentary maker
• Professor Richard Dawkins – Scientist and Writer
• Helen Fielding - Author
• Bill Forsyth - Film Maker
• Prof Suzanne Franks - Professor of Journalism, City University
• Michael Frayn - Author, playwright
• Stephen Frears - Film director
• Prof Chris Frost - Professor of Journalism, Liverpool John Moores University
• Stephen Fry - Broadcaster & Writer
• Prof. Conor Gearty - Professor of Law, LSE
• Mo George – Actor and press victim
• Terry Gilliam - Film Maker & python
• Susana Giner – Director, Youth Media Agency
• Roger Graef – Documentary-maker
• A C Grayling - Author
• Sarah Green - Campaigns Manager, End Violence Against Women Coalition,
• Lee Hall - Writer
• Jacqui Hames - Former police officer and Crimewatch presenter and press victim
• Sir David Hare - Playwright
• Prof Ian Hargreaves - Professor of Digital Economy, Cardiff University
• Katie Hickman - Writer
• Alan Hollinghurst - Writer
• Baroness Sheila Hollins – Mother of Abigail Witchells & victim of press
• Richard Horton - Nightjack' Blogger
• Rufus Hound - Comedian
• Sir Nick Hytner - Theatre Director
• Karen Ingala Smith - Chief Executive of domestic and sexual violence charity
• Christopher Jefferies – victim of press abuse
• Terry Jones – Comedian, film-maker & Python
• Baroness Helena Kennedy QC - Human Rights Barrister
• Nicolas Kent - Theatre director
• Imran Khan - Solicitor
• Baroness Beeban Kidron - Film Director
• Peter Kosminsky - Film director
• Mike Leigh - Writer and Director
• Robert Llewellyn - Actor, presenter and novelist
• Gary Lineker - Broadcaster
• Prof Joni Lovenduski - Professor of Politics, Birkbeck, University of London
• Angus Macqueen - Documentary-maker
• Krish Majumdar - Documentary-maker
• Michael Mansfield QC - Human Rights Lawyer
• Zoe Margolis - Author - victim of press
• Prof Kevin Marsh – ex-broadcaster
• Gerry & Kate McCann - Victims of press abuse
• Ian McEwan - Author
• Prof Maire Messenger Davies - Professor of Media Studies, University of Ulster
• Sir Jonathan Miller - Author, director, doctor, polymath
• Julian Mitchell - Playwright
• Peter Morgan – Film-writer and Playwright
• Baroness Onora O'Neill - Philosopher
• Lord Brian Paddick – Ex-police officer and press victim
• Sir Alan Parker - Film Maker
• Prof Julian Petley - Chair, Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom,
• Professor Gavin Phillpson - Durham Law School, Durham University
• Guy Ritchie – Film Director
• Sue Roberts – Hillsborough families press victim
• JK Rowling - Author
• Salman Rushdie - Author
• Willy Russell - Playwright
• Prof Jean Seaton - Professor of Media History, University of Westminster
• Stephen Sedley – retired Court of Appeal -Judge
• Sir Tom Stoppard - writer
• Peter Tatchell – Human Rights Campaigner
• Terrence Tehranian – Media entreprenuer
• Emma Thompson - Screenwriter and actress
• Claire Tomalin - Author
• Polly Toynbee – Journalist
• Prof John Tulloch – 7/7 survivor and press victim
• Anna Van Heeswijk - Chief Executive, OBJECT campaign
• Bishop of Wakefield
• Margaret & James Watson – Bereaved parents and press victims
• Irvine Welsh - Writer
• Rowan Williams – former Archbishop of Canterbury
• John Willis - Documentary-maker
• Jane Winter - Northern Ireland human rights campaigner
• Victoria Wood - Writer and Comedian
• Brian Woods - Documentary-maker
• David Yelland – Former editor of The Sun