Scotland Yard drops hacking-sources bid

Scotland Yard tonight dropped its bid to force the Guardian newspaper to reveal confidential sources for stories relating to the phone hacking scandal.

The Yard’s attempt to identify potential police leaks was widely condemned, with the newspaper’s editor Alan Rusbridger describing it as “vindictive and disproportionate”.

A police spokesman said: “The Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards yesterday consulted the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) about the alleged leaking of information by a police officer from Operation Weeting.

“The CPS has today asked that more information be provided to its lawyers and for appropriate time to consider the matter.

“In addition the MPS has taken further legal advice this afternoon and as a result has decided not to pursue, at this time, the application for production orders scheduled for hearing on Friday 23 September.

"We have agreed with the CPS that we will work jointly with them in considering the next steps.”