A quarter of Met press officers have worked for News International

Tuesday, 19 July 2011 1:00 PM

By politics.co.uk staff

Nearly a quarter of the Met's press officers have at some point worked for News International, Sir Paul Stephenson has admitted.

The Met commissioner, who decided to step down this week following reports of his relationship with former News of the World deputy editor Neil Wallis, told MPs on the home affairs committee that ten of the 45 employees in the Department of Public Affairs has previously worked for News International in some capacity.

The comments reflects the depth of the connection between Scotland Yard and Rupert Murdoch's media empire and will fuel the suspicions of those who believe the Met may have taken a superficial approach to phone-hacking in order not to upset certain newspapers.

It was Sir Paul's last appearance in front of the committee before he steps down as commissioner.
 

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• phone hacking
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• sir paul stephenson