Three held over 'Royal phone-tap'  Clarence House said it would not comment on the arrests Three men have been arrested on suspicion of intercepting phone calls, following complaints by staff at Prince Charles's Clarence House residence. The royal correspondent of the News of the World is among the detained men. The inquiry initially focused on calls linked to three royal staff, but is now examining whether other public figures have been affected. Scotland Yard said its anti-terrorist branch was investigating because of the potential security implications. Scotland Yard said in a statement: "Police launched an investigation after concerns were reported to the Met's Royalty Protection Department by members of the Royal Household at Clarence House. "It is focused on alleged repeated security breaches within telephone networks over a significant period of time and the potential impact this may have on protective security around a number of individuals." It added that as a result of initial inquiries, police now believe "public figures beyond the Royal Household" have had their telephones intercepted. "Police continue to work with the telephone companies concerned and continue to have their full support in attempting to identify any other person whose telephone may have been intercepted," the statement said. Officers have been working with the telephone firms for four months and have uncovered phone numbers that may belong to other members of the Royal Family, politicians and celebrities. Police searches The News of the World confirmed that its royal correspondent Clive Goodman had been arrested and was being questioned at London's Charing Cross police station. The three men - aged 35, 48 and 50 - were arrested at 0930 BST on Tuesday in Putney and Sutton, both in south London. They were detained under Section 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and remain in police custody. Detectives also searched business premises in Wapping, Sutton and Chelsea. Clarence House said it would not be commenting on the arrests. BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said the initial complaints were from three members of Clarence House staff - Prince Charles's communication secretary and two workers who deal with Princes William and Harry. Our correspondent said the investigation was "growing, rather than shrinking" because it was extending beyond the Royal Family.

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Topic	Date Posted	Posted By
PUTNEY MAN ARRESTED	09/08/06 00:01:00	John Chambers
Re:PUTNEY MAN ARRESTED	09/08/06 09:33:00	John Gorst

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