Two Andys

Becoming a journalist was a "boyhood dream" for Andy Hayman, who joined Essex police as a teenage uniformed cop in 1978.  In 2008, after he left the police, The Times gave him that opportunity. Since then, he's produced 75 columns.  This, from two years ago, suggests problems with Andy's recall.

The Times July 2009

The Guardian has said it understands that the police file shows that between 2,000 and 3,000 individuals had their mobile phones hacked into, far more than was ever officially admitted during the investigation and prosecution of Clive Goodman. Yet, my recollection is different. As I recall the list of those targeted, which was put together from records kept by Glen Mulcaire, ran to several hundred names. Of these, there was a small number — perhaps a handful — where there was evidence that the phones had actually been tampered with.


Had there been evidence of tampering in the other cases, that would have been investigated as would the slightest hint that others were involved.


In 2009, Andy's book, The Terrorist Hunters was published (and serialised in The Times).  Putative journalist or not, he seemed to need the help of Margaret Gilmore (ex-BBC, now RUSI fellow) as co-author. Both Andy and Margaret are represented by agents Knight Ayton.

Andy's transition from cop to hack looks set for derailment. Take this memorable quote from Tory MP Lorraine Fullbrook, when questioning him yesterday.  "Don't you understand the public will see you as a dodgy geezer who was in charge of a phone hacking inquiry [into the News of the World], who resigned from the force among allegations of expenses claims and allegations of improper conduct with two females, who has told this committee today you had no knowledge of editors or sub-editors of The Times, while cosying up to the executive level of News International ?”

The world of blogs and newspapers wants to have it both ways about possible links between Andy Hayman and Andy Coulson.  We know Andy Hayman was entertained four times by News of the World executives between 2005 and 2007; Coulson was editor between 2003 and 2007.  The Mail tries to establish a case for an NOTW hold over Hayman because of Hayman's friendship with Nikki Redmond of the IPCC.  Tim Ireland at Bloggerheads suggests it was a two-way street for the two Andys - scoops delivered which were favourable to the police.  The Slog says the friendship goes back to 2000, in Hayman's first spell with the Met, when Coulson was Deputy Editor, NOTW.

Either way, yesterday's performance by Mr Hayman doesn't look likely to drive more trade to his business and management consultancy, Security Insight, run from the family home in Colchester.