Rebekah Brooks and her husband have been charged alongside five other people today with perverting the course of justice.

The former News International CEO and her husband Charlie Brooks, who was charged with the same offence, released a statement earlier today before an official announcement by the Crown Prosecution Service.

It stated: “We deplore this weak and unjust decision. After the further unprecedented posturing of the CPS we will respond later today after our return from the police station.”

Alison Levitt QC, principle legal advisor to Keir Starmer – the Director of Public Prosecutions – said the CPS had charged Rebekah Brooks with three counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Her husband was charged with two counts.

The CPS had been passed a file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police in relation to seven suspects: Rebekah Brooks and Charlie Brooks, Cheryl Carter, former PA to Brooks, NI’s head of security Mark Hanna, Brook’s chauffeur Paul Edwards and Daryl Jorsling and a seventh suspect who provided security for Brooks.

The first charge relates to the alleged concealment of material from Met officers by Rebekah and Charlie Brooks, Carter, Hanna, Edwards, Jorsling and unknown individuals between July 6 and 19 2011, the second to allegations Brooks and Carter removed seven boxes of material from News International between July 6 and 9, and the third to allegations Rebekah and Charlie Brooks, Hanna, Edwards and Jorsling conspired with others to conceal documents, computers and electronic equipment from police between July 15 and 19.

The seventh unnamed suspect will not face charges.

A statement released by Carter’s solicitor said she “vigorously denies the commission of that or any offence”.

Hacked Off released a statement that read: “The Hacked Off campaign believes the CPS decision to charge Rebekah Brooks and others means a welcome opportunity to get to the bottom of accusations that have so far been the subject of intense speculation by the media.

“We note Ms Brooks’ expression of concern about ‘posturing by the CPS’. Hacked Off wishes there had been similar concern for due process during past media coverage of Christopher Jefferies, Robert Murat and others.

“Now that charges are being brought, this is a matter for the criminal courts.”