Millie

[PurpleHeather]

We were all horrified to learn that this beautiful girl was abducted and murdered.


Disgusted too by the way her parents were subjected to questioning at the trial of her murderer.  After all,  what parent has had a normal teenager, with whom there has not been disagreements. The judge allowed  the questions so we must assume he/she had a reason and may be one day we will understand that reason. Even if we can not understand the it at present.

The news on the BBC , that a journalist  hacked into Millie's phone whilst she was missing, deliberately deleted messages on that phone when the message box was full. So that further messages (of interest) could be added

The police were increasing the credit to the pay as you go number she had, so that  she could use it in an emergency.

The Police (quite rightly) will have been able to hack into her phone too to note activity which could aid their enquiries 

(That is how I understand it from the BBC news)

Well most adults know that there are loads of ways of listening into private conversations. That is why the links between government heads are 'scrambled' spies in WWII used to run water whilst they were talking to cover up their conversations and we all know technology has improved since then.

Royalty Politicians and various Celebrities must be aware that their phone lines, despite it being illegal are likely to be hacked into.

I do not intend to cause debate on that issue.

However I would like to know if any one thinks, as I do, that for a journalist ( or any other third party for that matter) to infiltrate the phone line of a missing person and delete messages received on that line, simply to make way for more messages, just to get a story or for any reason. Is a very serious crime indeed.

Thinking about it. The police may have belived the victim was still using her phone so was still alive.  A rescue might have been aborted.

Perhaps not the case in this horrible situation but it could happen.

Law and technology need time to catch up with each other, especially at the rate technology is developing.

Fact is, such intervention by a third party hacking into a phone number could cause the loss of the life of a victim who might have been rescued, risks taken into consideration.

Many murderers and child mollesters are, in my view, not right in the head.  At least I hope they are other wise they are normal and if so then I am a potential murderer and child mollester too. So are you.

That aside. A journalist who deliberately takes an action, just to hopefully get a story is either also not right in the head or is at least as evil as the killer himself.

My view and I have no qualification to make such a judgement it is a simple opinion.

[PurpleHeather]

[antipodes]

I am surprised that it seems so easy, even a journo can do it! What about security of phone systems?!
It was really reckless it seems to me, a disgusting attempt to get some newsworthy material. In other circumstances you are right, it may have cost lives.
Doesn't sound like anyone is going to get sacked though, let alone prosecuted...

[1066]

However I would like to know if any one thinks, as I do, that for a journalist ( or any other third party for that matter) to infiltrate the phone line of a missing person and delete messages received on that line, simply to make way for more messages, just to get a story or for any reason. Is a very serious crime indeed.

I would have thought that this was a criminal offence as it hampered the police investigations, can't remember the exact legal phrasing at the mo.

[Duke Ellington]

Is it ...
Perverting the course of justice.

I hope the News of the World will suffer and hope that all the other   "trash newspapers" take note.
I understand that there is a campaign to boycott that newspaper and some companies have already pulled their advertising.

Duke

[Paulines7]

I hope that the reporter in question is imprisoned for what he did.

To have made the police think she was still alive as her phone messages were being deleted and to have given the family false hopes, is a very serious matter.  It would no doubt have affected the whole investigation into her disappearance and led the police to think she was just another teenage runaway and maybe give the case less priority.   How low can these journalists sink? 

If the editor knew what was going on, they too should be jailed.

[Gadget]

Totally agree, it just sickens you to the bone  :(

[pumkinlover]

I always thought that paper was scum. Now I know it.  >:(
I really hope that legal measures are taken against them and that people boycott the paper- permanently.

[1066]

Is it ...
Perverting the course of justice.

That's what I was trying to remember thanks!

[tonybloke]

https://www.facebook.com/boycottNOTW

[pumkinlover]

Ok so they are closing the paper-so now he can concentrate on the bskyb business :-X

[daitheplant]

It wasn`t  journalist, it was a private detective working for the NotW, and the police who took money from him/them should go to prison for even longer.

[Digeroo]

The whole thing stinks.  I fail to understand why the police did not reveal this whole matter before.  I also think that phones ought to be more secure.  But the Conservatives did not want to rock the Rupert Murdock boat until after the election.