Phone-hacking at the now shut British Tabloid News of the World was so widespread that it was tantamount to a 'thriving cottage industry', a lawyer said during a judicial inquiry into the matter.  

At least 28 journalists at the News International media group employed private detective Glenn Mulcaire to carry out over 2,200 illegal voicemail tapping during seven years of eavesdropping on public figures, the Leveson Inquiry was told, with a journalist alone making 1,453 requests.