Crown prosecutors in Britain were carrying out an "urgent" review today of evidence related to alleged phone hacking by the News of the World.
Keir Starmer QC, the director of public prosecutions, said he wanted to reassure himself and the public that “appropriate actions” were taken over material provided by the police three years ago.
His announcement came despite police saying they would not be mounting a new investigation into new allegations that thousands of public figures had their phones hacked.
The victims are said to have included former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, PR agent Max Clifford, London mayor Boris Johnson and actress Gwyneth Paltrow.
Telephone messages from football manager Sir Alex Ferguson and player Alan Shearer were also allegedly intercepted.
Mr Starmer said: “In the light of the fresh allegations that have been made, some preliminary inquiries have been undertaken and I have now ordered an urgent examination of the material that was supplied to the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] by the police three years ago.
“I am taking this action to satisfy myself and assure the public that the appropriate actions were taken in relation to that material.
“Given the nature of the offences, the amount of material is, of course, extensive and complex, but it has all been located and a small team is now rapidly working through it.” He said the work would take some time, but he planned to issue a further update “in the coming days”.
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner John Yates said police had seen no additional evidence since its last investigation, which ended with the jailing of News of the Worldroyal reporter Clive Goodman in 2007.
Mr Yates also said detectives had found no evidence that Mr Prescott’s phone was tapped.
But he said police would now inform any potential victims that their phone may have been hacked where there was any suspicion.
He said: “No additional evidence has come to light since this case has concluded.
“I therefore consider that no further investigation is required. However, I do recognise the very real concerns, expressed today by a number of people, who believe that their privacy may have been intruded upon.
“I therefore need to ensure that we have been diligent, reasonable and sensible, and taken all proper steps to ensure that where we have evidence that people have been the subject of any form of phone tapping, or that there is any suspicion that they might have been, that they have been informed.”
Goodman was jailed for four months and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire for six months after they were found guilty of phone hacking.
The scandal led to the resignation of then News of the World editor Andy Coulson, who is now the Tories’ PR chief.
Conservative leader David Cameron defended his director of communications as Labour MPs lined up to demand his sacking.
The cross-party Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee announced yesterday that it was reopening an inquiry it held after Goodman was jailed.
The committee’s chairman, Tory MP John Whittingdale, said it would be asking former News International chief Les Hinton whether he wished to amend his previous assertion that no other journalists knew of Mr Goodman’s activities.
He said the committee may also call Mr Coulson to give evidence, among several present and former News International executives.
The furore broke after the Guardian reported that News Group Newspapers, which publishes the News of the World, had paid out more than #1 million to settle cases that threatened to reveal evidence of its journalists' alleged involvement in telephone hacking.
It quoted sources saying police officers found evidence of News Group staff using private investigators who hacked into “thousands” of mobile phones.
News International, which publishes the News of the World, said it was prevented by “confidentiality obligations from discussing certain allegations” by the Guardian.
But, it added: “Since February 2007, News International has continued to work with its journalists and its industry partners to ensure that its journalists fully comply with both the relevant legislation and the rigorous requirements of the PCC’s Code of Conduct.
“At the same time, we will not shirk from vigorously defending our right and proper role to expose wrongdoing in the public interest.”
PA