Process

The Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the press is running in four modules. These are:

• Module 1: The relationship between the press and the public and looks at phone-hacking and other potentially illegal behaviour.
• Module 2: The relationships between the press and police and the extent to which that has operated in the public interest.
• Module 3: The relationship between press and politicians.
• Module 4: Recommendations for a more effective policy and regulation that supports the integrity and freedom of the press while encouraging the highest ethical standards.

Requests for written evidence in relation to Module 1, were sent out in August, and Lord Justice Leveson also invited comments, evidence and submissions from any other interested parties.  As part of this process, Lord Justice Leveson held a series of seminars in September and October to set the context for the Inquiry.  Formal evidence hearings for module 1, started on 14 November at the Royal Courts of Justice. We are now inviting submissions for module 3 – issues relating to the press and politicians, and have set out some key questions to help with this.

Module 3 commenced on Thursday 10 May 2012 and will run to the end of June 2012. Module 4 will commence in early July 2012 and Lord Justice Leveson intends to finish the formal part of the Inquiry by the end of July. The Inquiry will not sit in the week commencing 4 June 2012.