Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator who worked for the News of the World, has been arrested by detectives investigating phone hacking at the former Sunday tabloid.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Weeting confirmed that a 41-year-old man was arrested at 7am on Wednesday morning and was questioned at a south London police station.
It is understood the man is Mr Mulcaire, a 41-year-old former professional footballer turned private investigator, who worked for the News of the World for about five years until 2006.
Police said he was held on suspicion of conspiracy to hack mobile phones and on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
The arrest is the 16th in Operation Weeting although it is the first time that anyone has been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in connection with the investigation.
Mr Mulcaire’s solicitor Sarah Webb refused to comment on his arrest.
Neighbours said they saw activity at Mr Mulcaire’s home in Sutton, south London, early yesterday [WED] morning.
A neighbour said: “I heard something going on this morning just after 7am.
“I looked out the window and there was a car parked outside his house, just a normal car, it wasn't marked.
“It didn't know if he had been arrested. I didn't see him being brought out of the house because I just glanced out the window when I heard the noise and then went back inside.”
Mr Mulcaire, who was paid more than £100,000 a year while working for the News of the World, is alleged to have accessed voicemails on behalf of the newspaper in order to gain stories on celebrities.
He is being sued by a number of high profile individuals for breach of privacy.
Mr Mulcaire’s arrest comes just days before his case for breach of contract against News International is due to commence.
He is suing the company in an attempt to make them pay his legal bills.
In July News International announced that it would stop paying Mr Mulcaire’s legal bills with immediate effect.
It emerged earlier this year that the company had paid "approximately £246,000" to lawyers acting for Mulcaire.
Mr Mulcaire claims that the company had a contractual obligation to pay the legal bills. The case is listed to appear in the High Court next week.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “On 7 December 2011 officers from Operation Weeting arrested a man, 41, in connection with phone hacking and perverting the course of justice
“It would be inappropriate to discuss any further details at this time.”
The phone hacking investigation was launched in January following a series of allegations about the extent of hacking at the Sunday tabloid. Police are currently sifting through 300 million emails given to them by News International.It has cost more than £3 million.
The scandal has seen the News of the World closed down and has caused the resignations of two of Scotland Yard’s most senior officers – former commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson and John Yates, an ex assistant commissioner.
It also prompted the resignation of two former News of the World editors.
Andy Coulson, then the Prime Minister David Cameron’s spokesman, and Rebekah Brooks, the then News International chief executive, have stepped down and have both since been arrested.
A neighbour said: “I heard something going on this morning just after 7am.
“I looked out the window and there was a car parked outside his house, just a normal car, it wasn't marked.
“It didn't know if he had been arrested. I didn't see him being brought out of the house because I just glanced out the window when I heard the noise and then went back inside.”
Mr Mulcaire, who was paid more than £100,000 a year while working for the News of the World, is alleged to have accessed voicemails on behalf of the newspaper in order to gain stories on celebrities.
He is being sued by a number of high profile individuals for breach of privacy.
Mr Mulcaire’s arrest comes just days before his case for breach of contract against News International is due to commence.
He is suing the company in an attempt to make them pay his legal bills.
In July News International announced that it would stop paying Mr Mulcaire’s legal bills with immediate effect.
It emerged earlier this year that the company had paid "approximately £246,000" to lawyers acting for Mulcaire.
Mr Mulcaire claims that the company had a contractual obligation to pay the legal bills. The case is listed to appear in the High Court next week.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “On 7 December 2011 officers from Operation Weeting arrested a man, 41, in connection with phone hacking and perverting the course of justice
“It would be inappropriate to discuss any further details at this time.”
The phone hacking investigation was launched in January following a series of allegations about the extent of hacking at the Sunday tabloid. Police are currently sifting through 300 million emails given to them by News International.It has cost more than £3 million.
The scandal has seen the News of the World closed down and has caused the resignations of two of Scotland Yard’s most senior officers – former commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson and John Yates, an ex assistant commissioner.
It also prompted the resignation of two former News of the World editors.
Andy Coulson, then the Prime Minister David Cameron’s spokesman, and Rebekah Brooks, the then News International chief executive, have stepped down and have both since been arrested.
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