Fears Over Top Cop's Leveson Evidence

The Attorney General is looking into concerns that the policewoman leading the investigation into illegal newsgathering could have prejudiced any potential trials.

Dominic Grieve's office is examining the testimony given by Sue Akers to the Leveson inquiry last month after receiving at least one complaint.

News of the investigation came as ex Met commissioner Lord Blair gave evidence to Leveson - and detailed dealings with ex editor of The Sun newspaper , Rebekah Brooks.

He told how his wife had met with Ms Brooks after The Sun featured the headline "Blair is doomed" and commented: "Nice headline, Rebekah."

Lord Blair said Ms Brooks was left "speechless".

Ms Akers, Scotland Yard Deputy Assistant Commissioner, is in charge of three linked inquiries into phone hacking, illicit payments and computer hacking.

She has told the inquiry that The Sun had a "network of corrupted officials" across bodies such as the police and Ministry of Defence.

One individual had received £80,000, while one journalist made payments to sources totalling more than £150,000 over a period of years, she said.

A spokeswoman for the Attorney General said: "Evidence given during the Leveson inquiry has been drawn to the attention of the Attorney General's office.

"The Attorney General will consider the concerns raised."

Appearing before the inquiry on Tuesday, former Met commissioner Lord Stevens warned that riots could break out if police cut ties with journalists as a result of the phone-hacking scandal.

The peer warned that failing to explain officers' actions to the public via the media in a high-profile incident like a fatal police shooting could lead to "massive public disorder".

He said Scotland Yard officers had become "absolutely terrified" of speaking to the press following the outcry last summer over the force's failure to investigate the full extent of phone hacking at the News Of The World .

The former Met Police commissioner told the press standards inquiry this was "extremely damaging" for British policing.