West Ham call in Police

West Ham United have called in Police to investigate the phone records hacking scandal said to have been instigated by Tottenham Hotspur.

The club confirmed this evening that the affair had been placed in the hands of the authorities following an independent investigation, undertaken by an independent barrister.

In a statement published on whufc.com, the club said: " West Ham remain in contact with Police with regard to the serious matter of a private investigator acting unlawfully, reportedly under instruction by Tottenham Hotspur.

"This matter is being treated with the utmost seriousness by the club, especially given the methods claimed to have been used to obtain this personal information in relation to reported breaches of the Data Protection Act as a result of the unlawful acquisition of bank and telephone records belonging to senior executives at the club and the OPLC.

"This activity, if proven, constitutes serious criminal conduct and can attract custodial sentences for perpetrators of the crime. In addition to the Police, the matter is also now in the hands of the Information Commissioner's Office, which investigates allegations of data protection offences."

The independent investigation was commissioned by West Ham in order to determine whether the outsourcing of work in relation to procuring a construction partner for the Olympic Stadium - to the OPLC's Ms Dionne Knight, who is involved in a personal relationship with West Ham's suspended Olympic Director Ian Tompkins - gave the club an unfair advantage in winning 'preferred bidder' status.

It was concluded that the link with Ms Knight had no affect whatsoever on the OPLC's decision.