Of course it went on all the time. Remember I was a weekly columnist on The Sun throughout the 80s and I simply assumed that such tricks were a standard weapon of investigative journalism.
I assumed all decent publications did it - including Private Eye. It wasn't totally moral or even absolutely legal but all celebrities in that era considered phones unsafe, letters dangerous, waste bins sources of hack gossip (anyone remember Mr Pell; Benjie, wasn't that his name; the man who specialised in searching bins... Benjie the Bin Man?).
It went on into the 90s and every Editor worth his salt knew it and sanctioned it with a wink, a nod and no specific requests or written proof.
Sean Hoare was a Bizarre reporter at the same time I was a columnist for the Sun.
I'm certain Coulson knew about it; I suspect the Editors of all the other papers (including Rusbridger of The Guardian) knew about it and were delighted when good journalists came to them with scoops.
I'm sure none of them ever said "how did you get this? Hacking? Disgraceful. We won't print it".
What we are seeing now is the morality of today being used to judge the behaviour of yesterday.
Ring any bells?

But I also think that Coulson should - and will - be indicted; so should proprietors; the buck stops there.

And the only punishment MUST be enforced banning from publication for limited periods.

I also think the appalling link between police and media must be stopped (ring any more bells?).

I've said this before... media, police and the judiciary all combined to get "a good story" is a horrifically dangerous situation.

To put it succinctly... U Be Dead.

Thank f**k for that. I was starting to believe false rumours that journalism had always been an honourable profession. If you have any honour then I find a new career dear. Someone once said that I'm sure. Better to have Wayne Rooney (god who would) scoring goals in some department than in none at all. As you say JK and constantly say JK, the good story or walk.

And there I was thinking I'd gone mad.

amazing !!

yes the unholy link between the media and police is the most perverted aspect of law enforcement..and it happens in Oz and he USA to some extent.

heads must really roll over this and coppers called to account.

Latest Paul McMullen revelations much more significant - everybody did it, everybody knew about it and if anything Coulson was less keen on it than most but he inherited it.

That is, I'm sure, the truth - but Coulson still has to carry the buck.