A senior British counterterrorism detective is going on trial for allegedly offering to pass details of a police phone hacking investigation to a tabloid newspaper.

Prosecutors say Detective Chief Inspector April Casburn offered to give the News of the World information in 2010 about whether police would reopen their investigation into illegal eavesdropping at the newspaper.

The 53-year-old investigator is due at London's Southwark Crown Court Monday on a charge of misconduct in public office.

Owner Rupert Murdoch shut down the News of the World in July 2011 after revelations that it had eavesdropped on the telephone voicemails of celebrities and crime victims.

The scandal sparked a public inquiry and several continuing police investigations that have seen dozens of people arrested.