The BBC revealed last week that the News of the World (NoW) had engaged ex-policeman Derek Webb to carry out covert surveillance of more than 100 individuals.  From 2003 through to 2011 Webb worked for the newspaper following celebrities, royals, politicians and others, sometimes for days, or weeks at a time.  For example, former Home Secretary Charles Clarke MP is said to have been watched for more than 20 days.  (The full Newsnight report can be viewed here.)

Michael Crick of Channel 4 News has reported that there were 153 names on Mr Webb’s lists.  This list includes 13 MPs as well as legal figures such as Lords Irvine, Macdonald and Goldsmith. Many of those on this list are also reported to have been phone-hacking victims – including Princes William and Harry, Paul Gascoigne, Lee Chapman, Gordon Taylor, Heather Mills and Ashley Cole.  As was widely reported last week, lawyers working for phone-hacking victims were also placed under surveillance.