Ex-NotW editor arrested as part of hacking probe

POLICE arrested a 61-year-old man as part of their investigation into the phone-hacking scandal at the now-defunct News of the World, which was part of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp media empire.

Greg Miskiw, one of the few senior editors at the time phone-hacking occurred who had not yet been arrested, told Channel 4 news last month he was preparing to return from his Florida home to Britain to talk to police.

Miskiw ran the News of the World’s news desk for many years.

He is the 12th person to be arrested as part of the probe that has rocked News Corp and had far-reaching implications for the British establishment.

So far, it has forced the resignations of former News of the World editor and Murdoch favourite Rebekah Brooks, and Britain’s top two policemen.

Rupert Murdoch and his son James have been questioned in parliament about the affair. James Murdoch, who runs News Corp’s non-US operations, may be recalled after two former senior News International executives called his evidence into question.

Detectives said the man had been held at midday after he arrived at a London police station on “suspicion of unlawful interception of communications” and conspiring to commit the same offence.

The arrest was made by detectives conducting an inquiry into whether journalists and private investigators illegally intercepted voicemail messages on mobile phones of people ranging from celebrities and politicians to murder victims and the families of dead soldiers.