Officers probe 600 new phone hacking claims

Hundreds of fresh claims of phone hacking at News International’s now defunct News of The World are being investigated by police.

At least 600 new claims of hacking are alleged have been made and are understood to have been uncovered when police obtained extensive records from a suspect.

News International executives fear the latest allegations will damage their attempts to rehabilitate the organisation, and that it will prompt fresh legal action from victims seeking millions of pounds in compensation.

A number of the alleged victims are new to the inquiry but some cases are fresh instances of hacking involving already known targets.