TV mogul Simon Cowell was yesterday named as a customer of rogue private detectives.
The X Factor boss has reportedly been named in a list of clients due to be published by MPs tomorrow who have used the services of convicted snoops.
The dossier is also said to include several High Street solicitors, multinational firms and insurers.
It was drawn up by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) following an investigation into private detectives jailed for “blagging” information last year.
The dossier was handed over to the Home Affairs committee, who are carrying out their own inquiries.
The agency has never revealed who is on list but MPs are vowing to make it public tomorrow.
The Home Affairs committee, which is led by former minister Keith Vaz and which includes Houghton and Sunderland South MP Bridget Phillipson said that while journalists who used private eyes had been subjected to intensive police investigation, others were avoiding similar scrutiny.
MPs are believed to be furious that SOCA failed for years to tackle organisations which fuelled the unlawful trade in personal data. Yesterday, Prime Minister David Cameron was drawn into the row and gave a
cautious backing to publishing the list.
He added: “We have in our country an open system of justice. That’s the way it should be. And that applies, as far as I’m concerned, unless there are specific exemptions.
“The open system of justice should be just that.”
Simon Cowell’s publicist, Max Clifford, expressed surprise that his 53-year-old client’s name was on the list.
He said he knew one of the convicted private eyes, Graham Freeman, but insisted he’d never introduced him to the talent show boss.
Clifford, who is himself facing trial next March over a series of sex offence allegations dating back to 1966, added: “Graham was keen to try and work for Simon but it never happened.
“That would have been arranged by me if it were to happen and it did not happen.”
He claimed he recommended Freeman to one celebrity client, Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona.
Last night it was reported Scotland Yard had removed the names of four blue-chip clients from the list.
It is believed it took the action because they are linked to a live investigation into corporate espionage. SOCA has also stressed that featuring on the list does not indicate wrongdoing.
The agency points out that the firms and individuals named on the list may not have been directly involved in commissioning the private detectives. On Tuesday Keith Vaz MP, the chairman of the Commons’ Home Affairs Select Committee, told SOCA that unless it published the list which was given to him in confidence earlier this year he would issue it himself. Vaz added that he had received legal advice and there was no reason to withhold it.
But Trevor Pearce, director general of SOCA, wrote to Vaz on Friday urging him to halt any actions.
In his letter, he warned: “I remain firmly of the view that publishing the list of clients would affect ongoing investigations and inquiries.”
He also reminded Vaz: “You confirmed … that the committee would treat the list as confidential.”
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