Rupert Murdoch has said allegations News Of The World staff hacked phones and paid police were "deplorable and unacceptable".

The chairman of News Corporation - the parent company of News International (NI), which publishes NOTW - also backed the tabloid's former editor and current NI chief executive, Rebekah Brooks.

"Recent allegations of phone hacking and making payments to police with respect to the News Of The World are deplorable and unacceptable," he said in a statement.

"I have made clear that our company must fully and proactively co-operate with the police in all investigations.

"That is exactly what News International has been doing and will continue to do under Rebekah Brooks' leadership."

His comments came after an MPs' debate on the issue, which was highly critical of Ms Brooks and NI.

David Cameron ordered a public inquiry into the scandal and the original police investigation into phone hacking by NOTW journalists.

In a day of dramatic developments, Scotland Yard has also launched a separate investigation over allegations officers took money from reporters at the paper.





More hacking allegations against the tabloid have emerged in recent days, with claims the parents of murdered Soham schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were targeted, as well as Milly Dowler and her parents.

"We do need to have an inquiry, possibly inquiries, into what has happened," Mr Cameron told MPs at Prime Minister's Questions.

"We are no longer talking here about politicians and celebrities. We are talking about murder victims, potentially terrorist victims, having their phones hacked into."





Mr Cameron added: "It is absolutely disgusting, what has taken place.

"And I think everyone in this House and indeed this country will be revolted by what they have heard and what they have seen on their television screens."

Urged by Labour leader Ed Miliband to launch a public inquiry sooner rather than later, the PM said it was not possible to start "any form of investigation" until the latest Scotland Yard investigation is completed.

But he said: "It may be possible to make a start on other elements."







Speaking about the initial police investigation, former home secretary Alan Johnson told Sky News: "They were being dishonest, evasive or lethargic."

Mr Miliband called for the appointment of a senior figure to lead the public inquiry and said Rebekah Brooks should stand down as chief executive of News International, which publishes NOTW.

Labour MP Chris Bryant, who initiated the Commons debate, echoed Mr Miliband's comments and said the scandal revealed an organisation which had "completely lost sight of any idea of decency".

"I believe that if Rebekah Brooks had a single shred of decency she would now resign," he said.





Ms Brooks, who was editor of the Sunday tabloid at the time of the alleged Milly Dowler phone hacking, has said she is "appalled and shocked" by those hacking claims but has refused to resign , and denied any knowledge of impropriety.

Simon Greenberg, head of corporate affairs for News International, told Sky News Radio that his company supports cross-party calls for a public inquiry.

He also said demands for Ms Brooks to stand down were "totally unfounded" and was "surprised" the leader of the opposition would base his calls on allegations and not facts.

He said News International was "not considering" Ms Brooks' position and she has the full support of the board.

Earlier the company said it "has uncovered new evidence and was very close to establishing who commissioned Glenn Mulcaire to conduct particular activities".





Britain's top policeman has said News International gave Scotland Yard documents indicating "inappropriate" payments were made to officers.

Sir Paul Stephenson, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said evidence handed over by the newspaper publisher last month suggested a "small number" of officers were involved.

His statement follows allegations that former Downing Street communications chief Andy Coulson "condoned" payments to police while he was editor at the News Of The World.





News International said in a statement: "Full and continuing co-operation has been provided to the police since the current investigation started in January 2011.

"Well understood arrangements are in place to ensure that any material of importance to which they are entitled is provided to them. We cannot comment any further due to the ongoing investigations."

Story continues