Phone hacking: Public inquiry to tackle all media

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The public inquiry into the phone-hacking scandal has been extended to look at the behaviour of all media organisations and social media platforms.

In a statement to the House of Commons, prime minister David Cameron outlined a wider remit for the judicial inquiry , which will be carried out under Lord Justice Leveson.

The amendments follow consultation with Lord Justice Leveson, the opposition, the chairs of relevant select committees and devolved administrations.

The prime minister said he had also talked to the family of Milly Dowler and the Hacked off campaign about the inquiry.

The changes announced today (20 July) include the addition of other relevant forces, as well as the Metropolitan police, within the scope of the inquiry.

The inquiry will also now consider the individual conduct of the press, police and politicians, as well as their relationships with each other.

"And we have also made clear that the inquiry should look at not just the press but other media organisations – including broadcasters and social media – if there is any evidence that they have been involved in criminal activities," he added.

Cameron used his statement to announce the panel of experts who will assist with the public inquiry, listed below:

• civil liberties campaigner and director of Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti;
• former chief constable of the West Midlands, Sir Paul Scott-Lee;
• former chairman of Ofcom, Lord David Currie;
• former political editor of Channel 4 news, Elinor Goodman;
• former political editor of the Daily Telegraph, and former special correspondent of the press association, George Jones;
• former chairman of the Financial Times, Sir David Bell.

"These people have been chosen not only for their expertise in the media, broadcasting, regulation and policing, but for their complete independence from the interested parties," Cameron added.

The final terms of reference for the inquiry have today been placed in the library of the House of Commons.