Security News > 2011 > February > News of the World hacked phones 'to steal stories from rivals'
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/news-of-the-world-hacked-phones-to-steal-stories-from-rivals-2202666.html By Cahal Milmoand Martin Hickman The Independent 3 February 2011 Phone hacking was allegedly used by the News of the World to obtain a story which rival titles had already obtained via the more traditional Fleet Street tactic of a paid-for "kiss and tell", according to newly disclosed High Court documents. Lawyers taking action on behalf of Nicola Phillips, a former employee of the publicist Max Clifford, have lodged a claim against the Sunday tabloid that it illegally accessed her voicemails in 2006 to get details of an exposé on a relationship between the actor Ralph Fiennes and a Romanian singer, Cornelia Crisan. The alleged hacking, which it is claimed allowed the NotW to print a similar story to that only obtained by the Sunday Mirror and The Mail on Sunday after paying Ms Crisan some £35,000, is the latest evidence that the practice was used to monitor the activities of journalists and publicists, as well as public figures and celebrities. The former NotW editor Phil Hall, who now works as a public relations consultant, said last night that he had been approached by clients who believed they may have been targeted, including David Davies, the Football Association executive who this week confirmed he had begun legal action over alleged hacking. [...]