Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Milly Dowler family call on Rebekah Brooks to quit

Pa
Monday 11 July 2011 11:24 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Relatives of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler today called on Rebekah Brooks to "do the honourable thing" and quit.

They urged the News International chief executive to leave her post as lawyers claimed Surrey Police knew about Milly's phone being hacked almost a decade before relatives found out.

Speaking after a Whitehall meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, family lawyer Mark Lewis said his clients "take the view that Rebekah Brooks should do the honourable thing".

"They don't see why she should stay in the job," he added. "They see this as something that went right to the top.

"She was editor of the News of the World at the time that Milly was taken in 2002. She should take editorial responsibility."

Both Mr Lewis and former Scotland Yard deputy assistant commissioner Brian Paddick said Surrey Police should have told the Dowler family that they may have been targeted.

He told the press conference: "Apparently Surrey Police knew at the time that the phone was being hacked into. Why they didn't tell the family at all... is a matter for Surrey Police to answer. What it does show is that this relationship between the police and the press is not restricted to the Metropolitan Police."

Ms Brooks - who was editor at the time of Milly's disappearance - has volunteered to speak to police over the wider phone hacking scandal, a News International source said.

Police were unable to confirm the claim that she is expected to speak to Scotland Yard detectives as soon as next week.

Ms Brooks is one of "several" executives who have come forward to offer their help to Scotland Yard, the source added.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in