I was never a big fan of Crimewatch. The reconstruction of violent attacks in regional jewellers was not very compulsive viewing for me. But it served a valuable purpose and was successful in nabbing several serial offenders and even a few murderers. One of its earlier presenters, Jacqui Hames (left), a serving police officer, found herself under surveillance by the NOTW following an appeal in the murder case of PI Daniel Morgan. Two of the suspects were other PIs and the evidence given to Leveson this week indicated some collusion by the suspects and the newspaper to undermine the murder inquiry. The treatment of stars like Sienna Miller and Charlotte Church has been shown to be remorseless and despicable - but this is on another scale entirely.
Rebekka Brooks was invited to the Yard at the time to explain her editorial practice. She apparently defended her paper's actions, saying she suspected Ms Hames was having an affar with co-presenter DCS Dave Cook. A poor defence, you might say: they were a married couple.
The bizarre revelation of the Met loaning out a retired police horse to Brooks showed, if it still needed showing, a far too cosy relationship at the the top of NOTW and the MPS. It is also prompted one of the most toe-curling statements from the Met about its arrangements for geriatric horses.
Much of the recent damning evidence concerns Brooks's tenure and I look forward to her testimony. Just a few days in and Murdoch Jnr has felt compelled to resign from News International.
Today the senior plod Stephenson, Yeats and Hayman give evidence on their failure to investigate phone-hacking and inform the victims. The toe-curling has yet to begin.
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