In response to the advance media storm last night (before the trial had closed) the CPS have released the following statement
“This case was not about whether phone hacking took place or whether public officials were paid for information; there are a significant number of recent convictions which show that both did happen.
“This has been a lengthy and complex trial which was required to explore a culture of invading privacy. Despite a number of applications by the defence to have the case thrown out the Judge agreed that the evidence was sufficient for consideration by the jury.
“The jury has found that Andy Coulson, former editor of a national newspaper, conspired with others to hack phones. Others who have admitted their role in this illegal practice – Greg Miskiw, Neville Thurlbeck, James Weatherup, Glenn Mulcaire and Dan Evans – all now face sentencing for phone hacking.
“We respect the verdicts and will inform the court on Monday of our decision on whether to retry the outstanding counts.
“As closely linked criminal proceedings are underway, I have nothing further to add at this time.”
Meanwhile, despite lots of misinformation to the contrary, the current police costs are as follows (and remember these staff would be employed in any event)
Operation Appleton (support for the Leveson Inquiry) – £1,130,000
Operation Weeting (phone hacking at the News of the World) – £18,723,141
52 arrests or interviews under caution. 35 journalists, 17 other
Phone hacking victims have been divided into likely victims and potential victims.
Likely means there is evidence of a PIN number, a Unique Voicemail Number called, recorded audio, or references to individuals in a hacking context.
Potential victims are those named with a mobile phone number associated.
The total number of victims of phone hacking from the news desk at the News of the World is in the region of 5500, with just over 1,000 classed as likely victims.
A combined total of around 3500 victims have been told they feature in the material recovered.
2000 have not been contacted or cannot be found. This is not a figure that is likely to change substantially in the future.
Operation Elveden (corrupt payments) – £9,978,138
125 arrests or interviews under caution. 53 journalists, 26 police employees, 13 conduits for payment, and 11 others.
51 charged, 8 summonsed to court, 34 NFA, 31 awaiting a charging decision.
14 pleaded guilty, 41 not guilty
9 sentenced, 1 acquittal
Operation Tuleta (computer hacking) – £2,699,018
38 arrests or interviews under caution
13 private investigators, 8 journalists, 17 other.
The total cost is £32,710,297 so far.
Operational staffing: In total, 195 police officers and staff were involved in 2012/13, 148 in 2013/14, and 130 in 2014/15.
The Criminal Media Nexus 
Reblogged this on David Hencke and commented:
Despite the hype this is the REAL cost of the trial. Note the astonishing figure that 5500 people are thought to have been hacked by the News of the World. What a disgrace to journalism if this figure is indeed accurate. I note that 3500 people have been informed that they were hacked.
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