LONDON - London's police force has admitted that its failure to notify suspected victims of phone hacking about the possible invasion of their privacy was unlawful.
The admission at the High Court deals with the Metropolitan Police force's failure to tell potential victims in 2006 and 2007 that their phones had been hacked by the News of the World.
Tuesday's police declaration is part of a settlement of claims against the force by hacking victims, including former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
The police have been widely criticized for initially failing to aggressively pursue evidence the Rupert Murdoch-owned newspaper was intercepting voicemails left for hundreds of celebrities, sports stars, politicians and crime victims.
