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| British Police Chief Says Sexual Abuse Complaints May Face More Skepticism | British Police Chief Says Sexual Abuse Complaints May Face More Skepticism |
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| LONDON — After months of embarrassing revelations about investigations of unfounded allegations of historical child abuse by prominent Britons, the head of Scotland Yard has announced another inquiry into police behavior and said the authorities might no longer be encouraged to believe every complaint made to them. | LONDON — After months of embarrassing revelations about investigations of unfounded allegations of historical child abuse by prominent Britons, the head of Scotland Yard has announced another inquiry into police behavior and said the authorities might no longer be encouraged to believe every complaint made to them. |
| The officer, Bernard Hogan-Howe, who is commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said that the latest review, led by a former high court judge, Richard Henriques, would be private and submitted to a current larger, independent inquiry led by the New Zealand judge Lowell Goddard into how all institutions handled the issue of child sexual abuse. | The officer, Bernard Hogan-Howe, who is commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said that the latest review, led by a former high court judge, Richard Henriques, would be private and submitted to a current larger, independent inquiry led by the New Zealand judge Lowell Goddard into how all institutions handled the issue of child sexual abuse. |
| The new review, Mr. Hogan-Howe said, would advise the police on “whether we can provide a better balance between our duty to investigate and the interests of suspects, complainants and victims.” Mr. Hogan-Howe, whose five-year contract is up for renewal, promised that “key findings” of the Henriques inquiry would be made public. | |
| One important issue for the review, he said, was a 2014 directive from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, which said “the presumption that a victim should always be believed should be institutionalized” in cases of sexual abuse. | One important issue for the review, he said, was a 2014 directive from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, which said “the presumption that a victim should always be believed should be institutionalized” in cases of sexual abuse. |
| But the police have been too credulous, especially in the case of an informer called Nick, who made serious allegations about a child sex and murder ring involving prominent Britons around Dolphin Square, an apartment complex close to Parliament. | But the police have been too credulous, especially in the case of an informer called Nick, who made serious allegations about a child sex and murder ring involving prominent Britons around Dolphin Square, an apartment complex close to Parliament. |
| The accusations appeared to have weight when a senior police investigator briefed journalists to say that Nick and his allegations were considered “credible and true.” | The accusations appeared to have weight when a senior police investigator briefed journalists to say that Nick and his allegations were considered “credible and true.” |
| In fact, they were not, and Nick has since been discredited. Mr. Hogan-Howe said the officer had “misspoken” after becoming “confused” by the need to follow guidance about complainants being believed. | |
| The apparent confusion lasted for many months without being corrected by more senior police commanders, while further allegations were leaked to chosen members of the news media. High-profile spectacles were organized. The home of Edwin Bramall, 92, a former field marshal and head of the army, was raided, but the inquiry into him was dropped. A televised police news conference was held in front of the home of Prime Minister Edward Heath, who died in 2005. | The apparent confusion lasted for many months without being corrected by more senior police commanders, while further allegations were leaked to chosen members of the news media. High-profile spectacles were organized. The home of Edwin Bramall, 92, a former field marshal and head of the army, was raided, but the inquiry into him was dropped. A televised police news conference was held in front of the home of Prime Minister Edward Heath, who died in 2005. |
| Another former member of Parliament, Harvey Proctor, was investigated about whether he conspired with Mr. Heath to murder a child at a sex party, one of the more lurid allegations Nick made. | Another former member of Parliament, Harvey Proctor, was investigated about whether he conspired with Mr. Heath to murder a child at a sex party, one of the more lurid allegations Nick made. |
| Leon Brittan, a former senior cabinet minister, died with unproved but publicized allegations of rape hanging over him. | Leon Brittan, a former senior cabinet minister, died with unproved but publicized allegations of rape hanging over him. |
| The investigations followed more substantiated inquiries into abuses by prominent entertainers, many of them employed by the BBC, including Jimmy Savile, as well as the singer Rolf Harris, the rock star Gary Glitter, the D.J. Dave Lee Travis and the publicist Max Clifford. All were convicted of sex offenses. | The investigations followed more substantiated inquiries into abuses by prominent entertainers, many of them employed by the BBC, including Jimmy Savile, as well as the singer Rolf Harris, the rock star Gary Glitter, the D.J. Dave Lee Travis and the publicist Max Clifford. All were convicted of sex offenses. |
| The police appear to be eager to make up for past cases in which allegations that proved to be true were not taken seriously or were suppressed out of deference. | The police appear to be eager to make up for past cases in which allegations that proved to be true were not taken seriously or were suppressed out of deference. |
| There were credible historical cases that went uninvestigated or were hushed up for years. Greville Janner, a Labour member of the House of Lords, who was alleged to have abused children, became senile and died before a court could pass judgment on his case. It emerged that the police had been ordered by political superiors not to arrest him, despite evidence suggesting he was involved in abuse, and recommendations by prosecutors for trial were rejected. | There were credible historical cases that went uninvestigated or were hushed up for years. Greville Janner, a Labour member of the House of Lords, who was alleged to have abused children, became senile and died before a court could pass judgment on his case. It emerged that the police had been ordered by political superiors not to arrest him, despite evidence suggesting he was involved in abuse, and recommendations by prosecutors for trial were rejected. |
| Cyril Smith, a Liberal member of Parliament, died in 2010 before serious allegations of child sexual abuse became known to the public, although a number of them had been brought to the police before he died. | Cyril Smith, a Liberal member of Parliament, died in 2010 before serious allegations of child sexual abuse became known to the public, although a number of them had been brought to the police before he died. |
| Mr. Hogan-Howe acknowledged “public concern” over the conduct of the police but emphasized that “investigating historical child sexual abuse is very difficult.” | |
| He said he would not apologize for any investigation, including the inquiry into Mr. Bramall, because investigating serious allegations is “our job, that’s what we’re here to do.” | He said he would not apologize for any investigation, including the inquiry into Mr. Bramall, because investigating serious allegations is “our job, that’s what we’re here to do.” |
| Writing in The Guardian, Mr. Hogan-Howe said the police should be “clear about the principle of impartiality.” | Writing in The Guardian, Mr. Hogan-Howe said the police should be “clear about the principle of impartiality.” |
| He added: “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 mind-set.” | He added: “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 mind-set.” |