Law Soc and SRA drawn into hacking story

In the latest developments in the NOTW-hacking story, the Law Society has expressed serious concern after claims by solicitors that their phones may have been hacked by the NOTW. In addition, the SRA has announced it is to investigate the role of solicitors in the hacking scandal.

The Law Society has been contacted by some of its members who police have notified about possible criminal activity. It has been suggested that the hacking occurred as a possible attempt to undermine the lawyers' legal claims against the newspaper.

Law Society Chief Executive Des Hudson has urged the police to carry out a full investigation. He says: "If hacking was carried out with the intention of undermining court action, it might well constitute an attempt to pervert the course of justice, which is a serious criminal offence. In any event, it is a shocking breach of the privacy of both solicitors and their clients." He continued that the extent of the scandal has shown a "blatant disregard for the privacy of individuals and the Law Society urges the police to investigate these claims with the utmost vigour".

Hudson also said he plans to write to Lord Justice Leveson, who is carrying out the inquiry into phone hacking, to ask him to investigate these allegations.

The SRA has also today announced the launch of an investigation into the role of solicitors in events surrounding the NOTW hacking crisis. Concerns raised by Tom Watson MP will be among those matters under investigation. While the initial stages of SRA investigations are confidential, any formal regulatory action arising from them would become a matter of public record.

The SRA's chief executive, Antony Townsend, said: "On the basis of our preliminary review of the material in the public domain, we have decided to instigate a formal investigation. The first step in this investigation is to obtain the evidence necessary to ensure a thorough investigation, using the powers we have under the Solicitors Act 1974. We have set that in hand today. Further decisions will depend upon the review of that evidence and any further inquiries we need to make. We will pursue our investigation vigorously and thoroughly, but emphasise that our inquiries are at an early stage, and that no conclusions have been reached about whether there may have been any impropriety by any solicitor."