Metropolitan Police role in the news media phone hacking scandal Times" deputy editor Raoul Simons. On 22 September 2011, "The Independent" published an article authored by James Cusick and Cahal Milmo reporting that, within weeks of the arrests of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire in August 2006, "a senior police officer" advised Rebekah Brooks there was substantial "circumstantial evidence" in the documents seized from Mulcaire that "News of the World" journalists in addition to Goodman were implicated in phone hacking. It also reported that in early autumn 2006, Tom Crone, legal manager for News International, contacted several other executives, including then News of the World editor Andy Coulson, informing them
2009–2011 News of the World phone hacking scandal investigations Andy Coulson. At the time "The Guardian" made these claims, Coulson had left News International and was director of Conservative Party communications and planning. Due to this, some claimed that the reporting was politically motivated. The Conservative Party was quick to stand by Coulson. "The Guardian" also reported that the "News of the World" had made payments in excess of £1 million to three people subject to phone hacking, including Professional Footballers' Association chairman Gordon Taylor, with the out-of-court settlements subject to secrecy clauses. Around the same time, "Private Eye" revealed that "The Guardian" had, in order to avoid "all