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14 January 2011
Last updated at 13:22 ET
Prosecutors are to review material held by the Metropolitan Police on phone hacking and the News of the World.
The Crown Prosecution Service said the move would establish if any of it could lead to a fresh criminal trial.
The exercise will review material relating to the original prosecution of one of the paper's journalists plus any more recent information.
Last week detectives asked the newspaper for information after it suspended one of its news editors.
In 2007, the private investigator Glenn Mulcaire and former News of the World reporter Clive Goodman were jailed after they admitted intercepting messages.
But following a string of fresh phone hacking allegations last year, actress Sienna Miller launched a damages claim against the newspaper, claiming breach of privacy and harassment.
In a statement, the CPS said the Director of Public Prosecutions Kier Starmer QC had agreed to conduct a "comprehensive assessment" of all material held by the police force relating to phone hacking, following "developments in the civil courts."
"The exercise will involve an examination of all material considered as part of the original investigation into Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire and any material that has subsequently come to light."
The CPS statement said the assessment would "ascertain whether there is any material which could now form evidence in any future criminal prosecution relating to phone hacking". The assessment would be carried out by Alison Levitt QC, the CPS's principal legal advisor.
In a letter sent to the CPS, the Metropolitan Police's Acting Deputy Commissioner John Yates said both the force and prosecutors were aware that there "remain outstanding public, legal and political concerns" over the phone hacking claims.
"This is particularly so in relation to the various and recently reported high profile civil cases, as well as the inquiry to be undertaken by the Parliamentary Standards and Privileges Committee.
"As a result, I consider it would be wise to invite you to further re-examine all the material collected in this matter.
"This would also enable you to advise me and assure yourself as to whether there is any existing material which could now form evidence in any future criminal prosecution relating to phone hacking.
"We both understand that any future action will always be for the police to consider independently."
A News of the World spokesperson said: "We will of course co-operate fully with any inquiries relating to the assessment by the CPS."
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The Crown Prosecution Service said the move would establish if any of it could lead to a fresh criminal trial.
The exercise will review material relating to the original prosecution of one of the paper's journalists plus any more recent information.
Last week detectives asked the newspaper for information after it suspended one of its news editors.
In 2007, the private investigator Glenn Mulcaire and former News of the World reporter Clive Goodman were jailed after they admitted intercepting messages.
But following a string of fresh phone hacking allegations last year, actress Sienna Miller launched a damages claim against the newspaper, claiming breach of privacy and harassment.
In a statement, the CPS said the Director of Public Prosecutions Kier Starmer QC had agreed to conduct a "comprehensive assessment" of all material held by the police force relating to phone hacking, following "developments in the civil courts."
"The exercise will involve an examination of all material considered as part of the original investigation into Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire and any material that has subsequently come to light."
The CPS statement said the assessment would "ascertain whether there is any material which could now form evidence in any future criminal prosecution relating to phone hacking". The assessment would be carried out by Alison Levitt QC, the CPS's principal legal advisor.
In a letter sent to the CPS, the Metropolitan Police's Acting Deputy Commissioner John Yates said both the force and prosecutors were aware that there "remain outstanding public, legal and political concerns" over the phone hacking claims.
"This is particularly so in relation to the various and recently reported high profile civil cases, as well as the inquiry to be undertaken by the Parliamentary Standards and Privileges Committee.
"As a result, I consider it would be wise to invite you to further re-examine all the material collected in this matter.
"This would also enable you to advise me and assure yourself as to whether there is any existing material which could now form evidence in any future criminal prosecution relating to phone hacking.
"We both understand that any future action will always be for the police to consider independently."
A News of the World spokesperson said: "We will of course co-operate fully with any inquiries relating to the assessment by the CPS."
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