Rebekah Brooks to be charged over phone hacking scandal

Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks is to be charged with perverting the course of justice during the phone-hacking scandal.

Mrs Brooks and her racehorse trainer husband Charlie revealed the charges in a statement in which they criticised the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service.

They said: "We have this morning been informed by the Office of the Department of Public Prosecutions that we are to be charged with perverting the course of justice.

"We deplore this weak and unjust decision.

"After the further unprecedented posturing of the CPS we will respond later today after our return from the police station."

Four other people are also to be charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in connection with the inquiry, including Mrs Brooks's personal assistant Cheryl Carter and Mark Hanna, head of security at News International.

The charges include conspiring to conceal material from Scotland Yard detectives, conspiring to remove seven boxes of material from the archive of News International and conspiring to conceal documents, computers and other electronic equipment from detectives.

Alison Levitt QC, principal legal advisor to the Director of Public Prosecutions, revealed the details of the charges in a statement read out at CPS headquarters in London.

Mrs Brooks faces three conspiracy charges. The others all face one charge each.

Miss Levitt said: "This statement is made in the interests of transparency and accountability to explain the decisions reached in respect of allegations that Rebekah Brooks conspired with her husband, Charles Brooks, and others to pervert the course of justice.

"The Crown Prosecution Service received a file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police Service on 27th March 2012 in relation to seven suspects: Rebekah Brooks; Charles Brooks; Cheryl Carter, Mrs Brooks' personal assistant; Mark Hanna, head of security at News International; Paul Edwards, Mrs Brooks's chauffeur who was employed by News International; Daryl Jorsling and a seventh suspect - both of whom provided security for Mrs Brooks supplied by News International.

"All the evidence has now carefully been considered.

"Applying the two-stage test in the Code for Crown Prosecutors I have concluded that in relation to all suspects except the seventh, there is sufficient evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction.

"I then considered the second stage of the test, and I have concluded that a prosecution is required in the public interest in relation to each of the other six.

"All seven suspects have this morning been informed of my decisions.

"They are all due to answer their bail at police stations later today.

"When they do so, they will be charged as follows:

"Charge 1 - conspiracy to pervert the course of justice: Rebekah Brooks between 6th July and 19th July 2011 conspired with Charles Brooks, Cheryl Carter, Mark Hanna, Paul Edwards, Daryl Jorsling and persons unknown to conceal material from officers of the Metropolitan Police Service.

"Charge 2 - conspiracy to pervert the course of justice: Rebekah Brooks and Cheryl Carter between 6th July and 9th July 2011 conspired together permanently to remove seven boxes of material from the archive of News International.

"Charge 3 - conspiracy to pervert the course of justice: Rebekah Brooks, Charles Brooks, Mark Hanna, Paul Edwards and Daryl Jorsling conspired together and with persons unknown, between 15th July and 19th July 2011, to conceal documents, computers and other electronic equipment from officers of the Metropolitan Police Service.

"All these matters relate to the ongoing police investigation into allegations of phone hacking and corruption of public officials in relation to the News of the World and The Sun newspapers.

"Following charge, these individuals will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on a date to be determined.

"No further action will be taken against the seventh suspect.

"May I remind all concerned that these six individuals now will be charged with criminal offences and that each has a right to a fair trial. It is very important that nothing is said, or reported, which could prejudice that trial. For these reasons it would be inappropriate for me to comment further."

Mrs Brooks and her husband released their statement ahead of the official announcement by the CPS.

The charges are the first to be brought following Scotland Yard's multi-million pound investigations into phone-hacking, computer hacking and corruption, which have led to 50 arrests since they began in January last year.

The latest arrests took place today and involved a 50-year-old tax official and a 43-year-old woman, detained at the same address in London by detectives investigating corrupt payments to public officials.

Today's decision to bring charges comes just days after Mrs Brooks lifted the lid on her close relationship with the Prime Minister at the Leveson Inquiry into press standards.

Mrs Brooks, a Warrington-born high-flyer in Rupert Murdoch's News Corp media empire, is one of the most high profile figures in the newspaper industry.

She became News of the World editor in 2000 aged 31, landed the top job at The Sun in 2003 and was appointed chief executive of News International in 2009 before quitting in July 2011.

Days later she was arrested over alleged phone-hacking and corruption, offences for which she remains on bail without charge.

She was arrested again in March in connection with the separate perverting the course of justice allegation, with her husband and four others.

Mr Brooks, who has been a columnist for the Daily Telegraph as well as writing a novel entitled Citizen, met his wife at a party with Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson.

Mr Brooks was spotted leaving Hammersmith police station, in west London, this morning while Mrs Brooks, wearing a black trouser suit, was filmed entering Lewisham police station.

Ms Carter's solicitor, Henri Brandman, said his client "vigorously denies" the allegation that she removed boxes with Mrs Brooks from News International.

In a statement, the lawyer said: "Cheryl Carter understands that she is to be charged today with attempting to pervert the course of justice.

"She vigorously denies the commission of that or any offence.

"She would like to thank her family and friends for their continued support during this most unhappy period of her life.

"Neither she, nor I, will be making any further comment at this stage."