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| Police 'should be neutral' in sex abuse inquiries, says Met head | Police 'should be neutral' in sex abuse inquiries, says Met head |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police should change their approach to allegations of sex abuse and not automatically believe the complainant, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has suggested. | Police should change their approach to allegations of sex abuse and not automatically believe the complainant, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has suggested. |
| Speaking at a BBC event, the Met Police commissioner said it was time to "reformulate" the policy, so police showed empathy towards victims but kept an open mind as they tested claims. | Speaking at a BBC event, the Met Police commissioner said it was time to "reformulate" the policy, so police showed empathy towards victims but kept an open mind as they tested claims. |
| It follows criticism of the Met's handling of high-profile investigations into claims of historical sex abuse. | It follows criticism of the Met's handling of high-profile investigations into claims of historical sex abuse. |
| An ex-judge will review its procedures. | An ex-judge will review its procedures. |
| The review will scrutinise the force's handling of investigations including Operation Midland - which is looking at claims that boys were abused by powerful men from politics, the military and law enforcement agencies in the 1970s and 80s. | The review will scrutinise the force's handling of investigations including Operation Midland - which is looking at claims that boys were abused by powerful men from politics, the military and law enforcement agencies in the 1970s and 80s. |
| The BBC's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said it was expected the change of approach suggested by Sir Bernard would be considered during the review. | The BBC's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said it was expected the change of approach suggested by Sir Bernard would be considered during the review. |
| Anonymity for suspects | Anonymity for suspects |
| In 2014, Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary said "the presumption that a victim should always be believed should be institutionalised". | In 2014, Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary said "the presumption that a victim should always be believed should be institutionalised". |
| However, writing in the Guardian newspaper, the Met commissioner called for a change in the way officers approached cases involving sexual abuse, including rape. | However, writing in the Guardian newspaper, the Met commissioner called for a change in the way officers approached cases involving sexual abuse, including rape. |
| "A good investigator would test the accuracy of the allegations and the evidence with an open mind, supporting the complainant through the process. This is a more neutral way to begin than saying we should believe victims, and better describes our impartial mindset," he said. | "A good investigator would test the accuracy of the allegations and the evidence with an open mind, supporting the complainant through the process. This is a more neutral way to begin than saying we should believe victims, and better describes our impartial mindset," he said. |
| He said police forces must also "be clear about the principle of impartiality". | He said police forces must also "be clear about the principle of impartiality". |
| "The public should be clear that officers do not believe unconditionally what anyone tells them. They are listened to, sometimes at length, before the decision is made to begin an investigation," he added. | "The public should be clear that officers do not believe unconditionally what anyone tells them. They are listened to, sometimes at length, before the decision is made to begin an investigation," he added. |
| Much of the criticism of Operation Midland has revolved around comments made by one senior detective. | Much of the criticism of Operation Midland has revolved around comments made by one senior detective. |
| At the beginning of the investigation, the officer described allegations made by a man known as Nick as "credible and true". | At the beginning of the investigation, the officer described allegations made by a man known as Nick as "credible and true". |
| Sir Bernard said the officer had "misspoken" after becoming "confused" by the need to follow guidance about complainants being believed. | Sir Bernard said the officer had "misspoken" after becoming "confused" by the need to follow guidance about complainants being believed. |
| Pressure on the Met | Pressure on the Met |
| It comes as the former head of the Army Lord Bramall, 92 - who last month found out he would not face any further action in connection with Operation Midland - called for a review into the case. | |
| The peer strongly denied claims, and said detectives had taken 10 months before speaking to witnesses who cast doubt on the allegations. | The peer strongly denied claims, and said detectives had taken 10 months before speaking to witnesses who cast doubt on the allegations. |
| There has also been scrutiny of the Met Police's handling of an investigation into a rape allegation against the late Lord Brittan, a former home secretary. | There has also been scrutiny of the Met Police's handling of an investigation into a rape allegation against the late Lord Brittan, a former home secretary. |
| He died in January 2015 without being told that the case against him had been dropped. | He died in January 2015 without being told that the case against him had been dropped. |
| Sir Bernard has come under mounting pressure to apologise to Lord Bramall. | Sir Bernard has come under mounting pressure to apologise to Lord Bramall. |
| Critics have also questioned whether his contract with the Met - which is up in September this year - should be renewed. | Critics have also questioned whether his contract with the Met - which is up in September this year - should be renewed. |
| 'Clear mistake' | 'Clear mistake' |
| However, he defended his decision not to apologise to Lord Bramall. | However, he defended his decision not to apologise to Lord Bramall. |
| Speaking at the BBC event on Wednesday, he said he had spent "four years apologising" - but said it was not appropriate to say sorry for the force conducting an investigation. | Speaking at the BBC event on Wednesday, he said he had spent "four years apologising" - but said it was not appropriate to say sorry for the force conducting an investigation. |
| Sir Peter Fahy, a former chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, told BBC Newsnight he felt some of the criticism Sir Bernard was receiving was unfair and that he was a "remarkable police leader". | Sir Peter Fahy, a former chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, told BBC Newsnight he felt some of the criticism Sir Bernard was receiving was unfair and that he was a "remarkable police leader". |
| However, he said that in the same position he would apologise to Lord Britten's wife for the delay in informing him his case had been dropped. | However, he said that in the same position he would apologise to Lord Britten's wife for the delay in informing him his case had been dropped. |
| "There is clearly a particular issue about a delay... that is a clear mistake, an error. It is not how the procedure should work," he said. | "There is clearly a particular issue about a delay... that is a clear mistake, an error. It is not how the procedure should work," he said. |
| "But I certainly think that no chief constable would apologise for investigating anybody." | "But I certainly think that no chief constable would apologise for investigating anybody." |