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Met too afraid of media reaction to end Leon Brittan rape inquiry – report Met too afraid of media reaction to end Leon Brittan rape inquiry – report
(35 minutes later)
The Metropolitan police were too afraid of “media criticism and public cynicism” to end a rape investigation into Leon Brittan after finding no evidence to support the allegation, it has been revealed.The Metropolitan police were too afraid of “media criticism and public cynicism” to end a rape investigation into Leon Brittan after finding no evidence to support the allegation, it has been revealed.
A report by the force on the failure to inform Lord Brittan and later his widow that no further action was to be taken on a rape allegation against him reveals further details of the police inquiry and decision-making in the case.A report by the force on the failure to inform Lord Brittan and later his widow that no further action was to be taken on a rape allegation against him reveals further details of the police inquiry and decision-making in the case.
It exposes for the first time how the force had apparently become hamstrung by fears about the media reaction to its decision-making in relation to investigations into alleged VIP paedophiles amid claims of a cover-up by the police and other authorities. It exposes for the first time how the force has apparently become hamstrung by fears about the media reaction to its decision-making in relation to investigations into alleged VIP paedophiles amid claims of a cover-up by the police and other authorities.
The report also repeats a call from the Met police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, for parliament to change the law to ban the identification of suspects in these cases.The report also repeats a call from the Met police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, for parliament to change the law to ban the identification of suspects in these cases.
The Met said the naming of suspects in such cases created an imbalance. “The commission invites legislators to consider the issue of pre-charge publicity for suspects and whether additional legal safeguards are required,” the report said.The Met said the naming of suspects in such cases created an imbalance. “The commission invites legislators to consider the issue of pre-charge publicity for suspects and whether additional legal safeguards are required,” the report said.
The report states that in November 2012, the force was passed a rape allegation by a woman which dated back to London in 1967. After an investigation the Met, which had submitted a file to the Crown Prosecution Service for early advice, decided in September 2013 that no further action should be taken.The report states that in November 2012, the force was passed a rape allegation by a woman which dated back to London in 1967. After an investigation the Met, which had submitted a file to the Crown Prosecution Service for early advice, decided in September 2013 that no further action should be taken.
The complainant was informed at the same time, but it was to be two years before Brittan’s family were informed, this month, that there was no evidence to pursue a case against him.The complainant was informed at the same time, but it was to be two years before Brittan’s family were informed, this month, that there was no evidence to pursue a case against him.
Seven months after the decision to take no further action, in April 2014, the most senior officer in the sexual offences unit began a review of the case – something which is part of established police practice.Seven months after the decision to take no further action, in April 2014, the most senior officer in the sexual offences unit began a review of the case – something which is part of established police practice.
The review, the Met said, led to Brittan being interviewed under caution in May 2014. Brittan’s interview came just days after a media report that Tom Watson, the Labour MP who first raised claims of a VIP paedophile ring with links to Westminster, had written to the director of public prosecutions to complain that Brittan had not been interviewed as part of the investigation into the rape allegation. The review, the Met said, led to Brittan being interviewed under caution in May 2014. Brittan’s interview came days after a media report that Tom Watson, the Labour MP who first raised claims of a VIP paedophile ring with links to Westminster, had written to the director of public prosecutions to complain that Brittan had not been interviewed as part of the investigation into the rape allegation.
It also came after the complainant had given a media interview in which she detailed her allegation of rape against an unnamed ex-cabinet minister.It also came after the complainant had given a media interview in which she detailed her allegation of rape against an unnamed ex-cabinet minister.
After Brittan was interviewed, an identity parade was held with the complainant in which she was shown a group of photographs of men matching Brittan’s broad appearance. Detectives concluded in November 2014 – two months before Brittan died – “there was not a strong case against Lord Brittan” and the evidential threshold had not been passed, the report said. Again he was not informed.After Brittan was interviewed, an identity parade was held with the complainant in which she was shown a group of photographs of men matching Brittan’s broad appearance. Detectives concluded in November 2014 – two months before Brittan died – “there was not a strong case against Lord Brittan” and the evidential threshold had not been passed, the report said. Again he was not informed.
Defending their failure to end the investigation, the Met report said: “It was felt these were highly unusual circumstances where the previous independence of the police to tackle sexual offending by VIPs had been publicly called into question. Defending the failure to end the investigation, the Met report said: “It was felt these were highly unusual circumstances where the previous independence of the police to tackle sexual offending by VIPs had been publicly called into question.
“A decision to take no further action in respect of this allegation would undoubtedly have resulted in media criticism and public cynicism, and there was clearly a very strong public interest in ensuring that the correct decision had been made.”“A decision to take no further action in respect of this allegation would undoubtedly have resulted in media criticism and public cynicism, and there was clearly a very strong public interest in ensuring that the correct decision had been made.”
The Met said no contact was made at any point with Brittan’s solicitors. The report states: “The MPS accepts that Lord Brittan’s solicitors should have been informed at the same time as the complainant was informed. This would have permitted them to clarify the position with Lady Brittan.” This failure was acknowledged in the Met police’s apology to Lady Brittan this month.The Met said no contact was made at any point with Brittan’s solicitors. The report states: “The MPS accepts that Lord Brittan’s solicitors should have been informed at the same time as the complainant was informed. This would have permitted them to clarify the position with Lady Brittan.” This failure was acknowledged in the Met police’s apology to Lady Brittan this month.