Britain ’ s top prosecutor was yesterday forced to deny conducting a ‘ witch-hunt ’ against journalists after tens of millions of pounds were spent investigating them . MPs accused Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders of needlessly ruining lives by pursuing reporters over allegations then allowing them to languish on bail without being charged . Police and prosecutors have been criticised for arresting journalists on suspicion of a range of offences in the wake of phone-hacking allegations , rather than concentrating on terrorism , violent crime and serious fraud . MPs accused Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders ( pictured ) of needlessly ruining lives by pursuing reporters over allegations then allowing them to languish on bail without being charged . An ongoing four-year investigation into alleged wrongdoing by reporters had cost £33.5million up to the end of September 2014 . Since 2011 , 64 journalists have been arrested but only ten convicted , four of them being jailed . One has accepted a caution and seven have been acquitted . No further action was taken against 25 of the other journalists investigated . Mrs Saunders was challenged as she gave evidence to the Commons Home Affairs select committee on police bail , following concerns suspects are being left in limbo . Conservative MP Michael Ellis said : ‘ Are you conducting – you , the Crown Prosecution Service – a witch-hunt ? An ongoing four-year investigation into alleged wrongdoing by reporters had cost £33.5million up to the end of September 2014 ( file picture ) ‘ It is being suggested by more and more people that a witch-hunt is being conducted against journalists and celebrities . ‘ Is it because of the groundswell of attention in this area that you are pursing these cases with insufficient evidence ? ’ Mrs Saunders said : ‘ We are not conducting a witch-hunt against anyone , be it journalists or celebrities . 'We do not make any distinction when we look at cases as to who it is we are looking at . What we look at is the evidence. ’ She insisted decisions should not be ‘ made in haste ’ .
MPs have accused Alison Saunders of ruining lives by pursuing reporters . Many have been arrested and languished on bail without being charged . Since 2011 , ten journalists have been arrested but only 64 were convicted .