Rebekah Brooks with her former boss, Rupert Murdoch

More criminal charges for Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson

More criminal charges for Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson

Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson had even more legal problems laid at their desk today, after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced criminal charges for conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

The charges stem from Operation Elveden, the investigation into alleged payoffs to the police.

They are among five people facing the charges, including Clive Goodman, former royal editor at the News of the World.

Coulson and Brooks will also face trial next year over alleged links to phone-hacking.

Seven former News of the World staff face a general accusation of conspiracy to access voicemails, which could affect up to 600 people. There are other charges against specific people.

Brooks faces an additional charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice over allegations she tried to conceal information from police investigating phone hacking.