Victims of Mirror Hacking Call for a Criminal Investigation

Victims of phone hacking by Mirror newspapers, including Prince Harry, are calling for a criminal investigation and are considering legal action if the police do not reopen the case.

Their lawyers have signaled a willingness to initiate a private prosecution if necessary after the High Court found evidence of rampant phone hacking at Mirror titles.

The Metropolitan Police is contemplating the High Court's findings, though no active investigation is ongoing. The claimants' legal adviser, Dr. Evan Harris, stressed their hope that the police and Crown Prosecution Service will take adequate measures, emphasizing the potential for either a judicial review or a private prosecution should authorities fail to act.

High-profile figures such as Chelsy Davy, Kate Winslet, Ricky Tomlinson, Ian Wright, Cheryl Tweedy, and the late Sarah Harding are among the claimants. With a previous inquiry shutting down in 2015, their legal team is ready to present new evidence and witness testimony from the recent trial.

A judicial review could challenge a police decision not to prosecute, whereas a private prosecution would allow victims to directly request a magistrate to start proceedings against MGN, the parent company of the implicated newspapers.

Police had arrested journalists and even questioned former Daily Mirror Editor Piers Morgan during the investigation, which began in 2013. However, the CPS concluded in 2015 that there was not enough evidence for prosecution.

Meanwhile, lawyers assert that new evidence from this summer's court hearings, where Prince Harry made a historic appearance, should prompt renewed scrutiny.

A potential criminal investigation would examine the illegal interception of voicemails and the engagement of private investigators, with possible charges ranging from breaches of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act to violations of data protection laws and misuse of the electoral roll.

Mr. Justice Fancourt identified several private investigator firms involved in illicit data collection for the newspapers. Any implicated journalists or executives who lied to the Leveson Inquiry could face perjury charges.

For a criminal conviction, the evidence must be beyond reasonable doubt, a higher standard than the judge's civil ruling based on a balance of probabilities.

Following the judgement, Piers Morgan reiterated his denial of involvement in hacking, while MGN's parent company, Reach PLC, welcomed the clarity provided by the judgement, apologized for past wrongdoing, and mentioned that compensation had been paid.