Soca refuses to publish names of blue-chip hackers

Britain's organised crime fighting agency last night said it will not publish the names of blue chip firms which used rogue investigators despite the appointment of a new chairman.

Last month Sir Ian Andrews stepped down from the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) after failing to disclose that he owns a consultancy with his wife, who works for a leading international investigations firm.

MPs on the home affairs select commitee said the organisation's new chairman should review the decision to block the names of 100 blue chip clients of private investigators, who were involved in blagging, hacking and stealing private information. Soca last night said that its interim chairman, a senior Home Office civil servant, will play no role in deciding to publish the names.