British prosecutors said Tuesday they won't press charges against aGuardian journalist and her suspected police source over leaksabout the country's high-profile phone hacking investigation. More related to this story For the British press, a clash between libel laws and media wrath Former British PM Tony Blair says he feared provoking media wrath Blair's courtship of Murdoch under the spotlight at Leveson inquiry The decision closes a sensitive case that has tested alreadystrained relations between Britain's media and its largest policeforce, both of whom are struggling to deal with the fallout fromthe phone hacking scandal that erupted last year after revelationsthat journalists at the News of the World tabloid routinely hackedvoicemails. Media groups were angered that police were pursuing Guardianreporter Amelia Hill over the leaks, especially given that herpaper had helped uncover the scandal. Britain's Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement Tuesdaythere was enough evidence to show that Ms. Hill had gotten leaksabout the case from an unnamed 51-year-old detective constable, butthat prosecuting them would not be in the public interest. The Guardian said in a statement on its website that it welcomedthe sensible decision to abandon this worrying attempt tocriminalize legitimate contact between journalists and confidentialsources. Ms. Hill, who has produced a string of exclusives surrounding thephone hacking investigation, said in a statement that implicatingher in the investigation had been a disproportionate response from authorities and a sinister attempt to chill public-interestjournalism. Allison Levitt, principal legal adviser to the director of publicprosecution, explained that the decision not to charge Ms. Hillcame after considering new legal guidelines for criminality injournalism. In cases involving the media, prosecutors must weighwhether the public interest served by journalists' conductoutweighs the overall criminality alleged, Ms. Levitt explained. Ms. Hill was working with other journalists on articles which were capable of disclosing the commission of criminal offences, wereintended to hold others to account ... and were capable of raisingand contributing to an important matter of public debate, namelythe nature and extent of the influence of the media, Ms. Levittsaid. In her case, the public interest outweighs the overallcriminality alleged. The phone-hacking scandal has rocked Britain's establishment. Ithas spawned three parallel police investigations and led to thearrests of more than 40 journalists, public officials and mediaexecutives. Six people have been charged in relation to theinvestigations. More related to this story Journalist says Piers Morgan showed him how to access voice-mailmessages Disgraced tabloid editor details close ties to British PM DavidCameron Former minion of Cameron, Murdoch offers praise at phone-hackinginquiry Tony Blair admits cozy ties with Murdoch crucial to politicalsuccess. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Double Canopy Golf Umbrella , China LED Light Umbrella, and more. For more , please visit Custom Printed Umbrellas today!
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