Sunday Mirror Hacking Inquiry: Four Arrested

Four senior journalists have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in a phone voicemail hacking conspiracy involving the Sunday Mirror newspaper.

Two of those held were confirmed to be James Scott, former deputy editor of the Sunday Mirror and current editor of The Sunday People and Nick Buckley, the former head of news at the Sunday Mirror and now deputy editor of the Sunday People.

Sky sources named the others as Tina Weaver, the former editor of the Sunday Mirror and Mark Thomas, former deputy editor of the Sunday Mirror and former editor of the Sunday People.

Mr Scott is the first sitting newspaper editor to be arrested under Operation Weeting.

Police revealed they had made the arrests on Thursday morning in a series of dawn raids.

The four suspects were being interviewed at various police stations in London and police said searches were continuing at a number of addresses.

The allegations relate to offences which are said to have occurred in 2003 and 2004.

"Detectives on Operation Weeting have identified and are investigating a suspected conspiracy to intercept telephone voicemails at Mirror Group Newspapers," a Met Police statement said.

"This conspiracy is being treated as a separate conspiracy to the two being investigated at the now defunct News of the World newspaper.

"It is believed it mainly concerned the Sunday Mirror newspaper and at this stage the primary focus is on the years 2003 and 2004.

"As part of the inquiry four people were arrested at separate addresses at approximately 0600 hrs this morning (14 March) on suspicion of conspiracy to intercept telephone communications contrary to the Criminal Law Act 1997."

A Trinity Mirror spokesman later confirmed that two of its current staff members were among those arrested.

The spokesman said: "We can confirm that James Scott the Editor of the People and his Deputy, Nick Buckley, were arrested this morning as part of Operation Weeting. We understand that two former employees were also arrested this morning.

"The police are investigating allegations of phone hacking whilst they were on the Sunday Mirror during 2003 and 2004.

"We are co-operating with the police and we have no further comment to make at this stage."

And internal email to staff said that Mr Scott and Mr Buckley were being provided with legal support.

Four civil claims have been lodged against the Mirror Group over alleged phone hacking, which it is contesting.