Last updated at 6:52 PM on 2nd August 2011
'Arrested': Stuart Kuttner, 71, is former managing editor of the News of the World
The former managing editor of the News of the World Stuart Kuttner is believed to have been arrested on suspicion of phone hacking and corruption.
Scotland Yard said a 71-year-old man was arrested by appointment at a north London police station at 10.50am and remains in custody.
Mr Kuttner left his position at the now defunct newspaper two years ago.
Mr Kuttner quit shortly before the Guardian disclosed News of the World paid out more than 1 million to settle cases which threatened to reveal evidence of alleged phone-hacking,
He has previously denied his decision was related to the issue.
At the time of his resignation in July 2009, he was described by then-editor Colin Myler as a man whose 'DNA is absolutely integrated into the newspaper which he has represented across the media with vigour'.
He was an 'outstanding managing editor' who was 'a major driving force behind the success of Sarah's Law', Mr Myler said.
Officers from Operation Weeting and Operation Elveden arrested the man on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications and on suspicion of inappropriate payments to police.
Alan Rusbridger, editor in chief of the Guardian, said on Twitter that it was Mr Kuttner who had been arrested.
Several other media outlets also reported that the man being questioned was Mr Kuttner.
Public face of the paper: Kuttner stands alongside Sara and Michael Payne following the News of the World's decision to run a campaign entitled 'Sarah's Law'
The 71-year-old man is the 11th person to be arrested since Scotland Yard's investigation into phone hacking was launched in January.
The former Managing Editor was the public face of the News of the World under the editorships of both Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson.
Praise: Colin Myler, who was editor when Kuttner left his post, said he was an 'outstanding managing editor' and a man whose 'DNA is absolutely integrated into the newspaper'
With both reluctant to face the media, Kuttner appeared in front of the camera's when then paper launched its 'Sarah's Law' campaign following the murder of Sarah Payne in 2000.
He also dealt directly with Sarah's parents Sara and Michael.
Two years later, he was back in the public consciousness when he appeared in Soham following schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Champman's disappearance to defend the paper's offer of a 150,000 reward.
He claimed that the Detective Superintendent in charge of finding the missing ten-year-olds had actually welcomed the reward.
But others thought that the offer was actually a ploy to sell more copies of the paper.
Kuttner also appeared on the Radio 4 Today programme during his time as Managing Editor.
In his 2008 appearance he said the paper was acting as a 'watchdog' against corruption by those in power.
Reward: Kuttner was forced to defend the News of the World over accusations that 150,000 offered to help find Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman was actually a ploy to sell more papers
He added that the use of private investigators 'shouldn't happen' and that when it did on his paper the reported in question was sacked while the editor resigned.
He also argued that journalism was a 'very honourable profession'.
His arrest follows a series of high-profile figures, including former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and ex-Downing Street communications chief Andy Coulson.
The scandal has already caused the closure of the News of the World after 168 years and the resignation of two top police officers, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson and Assistant Commissioner John Yates.
Questioned: Former editors of the News of the World Andy Coulson (L) and Rebekah Brooks have both been arrested in connection with the phone hacking scandal
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'At 10.50 on Tuesday August 2 officers from Operation Weeting together with officers from Operation Elveden arrested a man on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications, contrary to Section 1 (1) Criminal Law Act 1977 and on suspicion of corruption allegations contrary to Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906.
'The male, aged 71, was arrested by appointment at a north London police station. He is currently in custody.'
News International said they had no comment on the arrest.
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