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| VIP paedophile inquiry: Police criticise Panorama broadcast | VIP paedophile inquiry: Police criticise Panorama broadcast |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Scotland Yard has criticised the BBC's decision to broadcast a Panorama programme on child sexual abuse, saying it could affect inquiries. | Scotland Yard has criticised the BBC's decision to broadcast a Panorama programme on child sexual abuse, saying it could affect inquiries. |
| It said it had "serious concerns" about the programme's impact on witnesses and some abuse victims considering coming forward to report crimes. | It said it had "serious concerns" about the programme's impact on witnesses and some abuse victims considering coming forward to report crimes. |
| A man who made allegations against VIPs told Panorama campaigners may have led him into making sex abuse claims. | A man who made allegations against VIPs told Panorama campaigners may have led him into making sex abuse claims. |
| The BBC said it was "important and fair investigative journalism". | The BBC said it was "important and fair investigative journalism". |
| In a statement, police said: "The Metropolitan Police Service has serious concerns about the impact of this programme on its investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse and homicide, on the witnesses involved, and on the willingness of victims of abuse to come forward to police." | In a statement, police said: "The Metropolitan Police Service has serious concerns about the impact of this programme on its investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse and homicide, on the witnesses involved, and on the willingness of victims of abuse to come forward to police." |
| It also stressed that its inquiry was continuing and said it would not give a "running commentary" on its progress. | It also stressed that its inquiry was continuing and said it would not give a "running commentary" on its progress. |
| Ceri Thomas, Panorama's editor, said: "We were enormously concerned throughout not to do anything that would deter victims from coming forward. | |
| "But we think we have to be able to scrutinise how the police go about big investigations like this and there really isn't a way to do that without looking at the way that police have treated statements from victims and treated the evidence they've brought forward." | |
| Paedophile investigation | Paedophile investigation |
| The man - who Panorama referred to as "David" - told the Panorama programme, called The VIP Paedophile Ring: What's the Truth? he had provided VIP names including that of ex-Home Secretary Leon Brittan, "as a joke suggestion to start with", which had later been repeated in earnest. | The man - who Panorama referred to as "David" - told the Panorama programme, called The VIP Paedophile Ring: What's the Truth? he had provided VIP names including that of ex-Home Secretary Leon Brittan, "as a joke suggestion to start with", which had later been repeated in earnest. |
| His account was the basis of news reports about the late Lord Brittan, who died in January 2015. | His account was the basis of news reports about the late Lord Brittan, who died in January 2015. |
| Police investigated his claims but brought no charges. | Police investigated his claims but brought no charges. |
| David has given campaigners and journalists details of alleged abuse by Lord Brittan over more than 20 years. He says he suffered abuse for many years and was also interviewed by police as a potential witness for a total of 50 hours. | David has given campaigners and journalists details of alleged abuse by Lord Brittan over more than 20 years. He says he suffered abuse for many years and was also interviewed by police as a potential witness for a total of 50 hours. |
| He spoke to Panorama as part of its investigation into the so-called Westminster paedophile ring, which is said to have murdered three boys in the 70s and 80s. | He spoke to Panorama as part of its investigation into the so-called Westminster paedophile ring, which is said to have murdered three boys in the 70s and 80s. |
| The late Lord Brittan was one of those accused of being part of it. | The late Lord Brittan was one of those accused of being part of it. |
| Find out more | Find out more |
| Read What's the truth about the VIP paedophile ring by Panorama editor Ceri Thomas | Read What's the truth about the VIP paedophile ring by Panorama editor Ceri Thomas |