**Police say there will be no further investigation of claims that a huge mobile phone hacking operation was launched by the News of the World.**The Guardian alleged the tabloid’s reporters paid private investigators to hack into thousands of phones, many owned by politicians and celebrities.
But the Metropolitan Police said no new evidence had emerged since an original inquiry saw two men jailed in 2007.
There was no evidence ex-deputy PM John Prescott had been targeted, it added.
The original phone hacking investigation resulted in News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glen Mulcaire being jailed for four and six months respectively in January 2007.
Met Assistant Commissioner John Yates said that inquiry had been the “subject of the most careful investigation by very experienced detectives”.
He said: “No additional evidence has come to light since this case has concluded. I therefore consider that no further investigation is required.”
Mt Yates added: "There has been a lot of media comment today about the then deputy prime minister John Prescott.
“This investigation has not uncovered any evidence to suggest that John Prescott’s phone had been tapped.”
Alleged victims of the phone-hacking operation - including former deputy prime minister John Prescott and broadcaster Andrew Neil - have complained that because they were kept in the dark about the allegations they have not been able to seek redress from the News of the World.
The Guardian alleged Mr Prescott, London Mayor Boris Johnson, former Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, model Elle Macpherson and publicist Max Clifford were among “two or three thousand” public figures targeted by the hacking operation.