Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

The Edinburgh Procurator Fiscal today announced that there is to be a criminal investigation into allegations of perjury arising from a civil trial.

A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said:

"On the basis of information presently available to her, the Procurator Fiscal at Edinburgh has today instructed Lothian and Borders police to begin a criminal investigation into allegations of perjury arising from the civil trial between Tommy Sheridan and the News of the World.

"It is not possible to speculate as to any possible lines of inquiry, or on the possible timescale for the investigation. As in any ongoing criminal investigation, the Crown will not be discussing the available evidence through the media. Lothian and Borders Police will submit a report to the Procurator Fiscal at Edinburgh in due course."

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