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Brooks: Arrest caused ‘enormous reputational damage’

By Andrew Pugh

Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks denied she was guilty of any criminal offence following her release by detectives investigating allegations of phone hacking and illegal payment to police at the News of the World.

Brooks, who edited the NoW between 2000-03, was expecting to be questioned by police but was said to be ‘surprised’when she was read her rights after arriving at a London police station yesterday.

Today, after being held by police for nine hours, she claimed to have suffered ‘enormous reputational damage” and questioned the motives behind the arrest.

A statement from her lawyer Stephen Parkinson said: ‘The position of Rebekah Brooks can be simply stated. She is not guilty of any criminal offence.

‘The position of the Metropolitan Police is less easy to understand. Despite arresting her yesterday and conducting an interview process lasting nine hours, they put no allegations to her, and showed her no documents connecting her with any crime.

‘They will in due course have to give an account of their actions, and in particular their decision to arrest her, with the enormous reputational damage that this has involved.”

Brooks confirmed she will be attending tomorrow’s hearing before the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee tomorrow along with James and Rupert Murdoch.

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“She remains willing to attend and to answer questions,” said Parkinson.

‘It is a matter for Parliament to decide what issues to put to her and whether her appointment should take place at a later date.”

Brooks resigned from her role as News International chief executive on Friday.

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