Union leader claims phone was hacked

Firebrand union leader Bob Crow yesterday became the latest public figure to complain to the police that his phone has been hacked by journalists.

Lawyers for Bob Crow, general-secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers’ union, have written to London’s Metropolitan Police asking them to probe suspicions that his phone might have been targeted as long ago as 2000.

“RMT has had suspicions that journalists may have had access to private information about my movements and my union’s activities that date back to the year 2000,” Mr Crow said.

“We are now asking for the police, as part of their renewed investigation, to disclose to us any evidence or information that they may have uncovered in respect of the News of the World.”

Police launched a fresh investigation into phone hacking by journalists at the Rupert Murdoch-owned News of the World Sunday tabloid last week after receiving “significant new information”.

Ongoing revelations in the scandal led to the resignation earlier this month of British Prime Minister David Cameron’s communications chief Andy Coulson, a former editor of the newspaper.

A string of politicians, royalty and showbusiness figures have previously claimed that their phones were tapped and actress Sienna Miller is believed to be taking civil action against the newspaper.