The transcripts of the official inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the press. More…
Thank you.
Well, I think no. No.
Sorry?
I can't remember, I'm afraid.
I can't remember specifically the date, but if it's registered, then I must have, yes.
No.
I think I was aware of the complaint, from memory.
I think I -- because at the time of the actual incident, I was on annual leave, out of the country, and I came -- that was on the Friday. I came back on the Monday, and I think I did attend an MPA meeting. I can't --
I can't recall, no. I do recall -- I think the complaint was put in -- a complaint was made, but I can't recall if it was the Sunday Telegraph, but I am aware -- I think a complaint was made, yes.
The incident was, yes.
I don't know.
I'm not aware of anyone being investigated for that, apart from some years ago, about nine years ago. That's the only inquiry I'm aware of in relation to leaks of a press officer at the time.
Yeah, I mean, when journalists make enquiries, clearly they get information from other sources and then if we're not in a position to confirm that, then they will take that position.
If somebody accused me of, in effect, lying, yes --
Not that I can recall.
Yes, clearly, because operationally other issues of -- have come out which would change those press lines.
We can only draft press lines and did draft press lines on the information we've given by the operational side, and those press lines are done in good faith, and I'm not there to mislead in any shape or form. Now, if it transpires there is other information ...
Absolutely, but not me as an individual, because I have a small team, so it would be me or my colleagues. But as the lead press desk, yes, it was specialist operation, yes.
Not the only point. Clearly he might come to me as the senior press officer. He may have made calls and spoke to my colleagues, and indeed he may have gone into the Press Bureau. So I wasn't his single point of contact, but I would have had contact ...
Yes.
I have spoken to Mr Davies, yeah, when he's made press enquiries, yes.
I wasn't aware -- Mr Davies has never raised that with me, as the press officer dealing with phone hacking on SO press desk, and I'm not aware that he raised those specific issues with anybody else. He may have done, but I'm not aware and he didn ...
That should be on our press log.
The press line will be, yes.
There was only one question that came in, from memory, supposedly about a comment that DPA may have tried to influence the inquiry, which we put a line in rebutting.
Oh, from memory I couldn't tell you exactly, but there were various questions which came in to us which we provided information as much as we could. And we treated that as we would all the normal enquiries about phone hacking.
Yes. We were aware that the New York Times were doing an in-depth article. They had put certain questions to us. But clearly we didn't know the content of that until it was actually published. We hadn't had advance sight of the draft or of the copy.
I'm not aware.
I don't know if -- who that was referring to.
No, only -- I mean obviously at the time of the operation, it was a very covert, tightly-held operation which I was only briefed on very shortly before the arrests, and the sharing of information was very, very tight.
Yes, I was.
Yeah, I drafted the statement and the lines at the time in liaison with the officers, yes.
Yeah, I think so.
I think perhaps in some quarters, because if we weren't aware of it when it transpired or it comes out, then obviously it's news to people.
Yes, but clearly if we get enquiries that aren't in my area of responsibility, we would pass that on. But in general terms, you would have a general idea of what was going on elsewhere.
Oh no. From memory, I don't think I dealt with any of the FOIs. They were dealt with by, I think, our corporate office and more strategic lines I wouldn't have been involved in, but clearly would have had -- be aware of.
I think clearly there was a perception that the level was seen to be inappropriate.
I think it would just be generally about the media enquiries and just general discussion around what the hospitality comprised of.
In general terms, yes.
I can't recall -- we may have had questions about their hospitality because obviously the hospitality registers were published, so I think we may well have had questions coming in to us about that, yeah.