This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/feb/16/leon-brittans-widow-receives-full-apology-from-met-police-chief

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Leon Brittan's widow receives full apology from Met police chief Leon Brittan's widow receives full apology from Met police chief
(35 minutes later)
Scotland Yard chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe offered a full apology to the widow of Leon Brittan, the former home secretary’s family have revealed. The Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, offered a full apology to the widow of Leon Brittan, the former home secretary’s family have said.
The Metropolitan police commissioner met Lady Brittan to discuss the force’s handling of a historical rape allegation against her husband. Hogan-Howe met Lady Brittan to discuss the force’s handling of a historical rape allegation against her husband.
In a statement on Tuesday, Lord Brittan’s familysaid: “Lady Brittan met the commissioner of the Metropolitan police, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, at a private meeting earlier this afternoon.In a statement on Tuesday, Lord Brittan’s familysaid: “Lady Brittan met the commissioner of the Metropolitan police, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, at a private meeting earlier this afternoon.
Related: Tom Watson to issue written apology to Leon Brittan's widowRelated: Tom Watson to issue written apology to Leon Brittan's widow
“At the start of the meeting Sir Bernard offered Lady Brittan a full apology on behalf of the force, which she accepted.“At the start of the meeting Sir Bernard offered Lady Brittan a full apology on behalf of the force, which she accepted.
“Lady Brittan went on to ask and table some 30 questions regarding the two police enquiries as they related to Lord Brittan. Sir Bernard promised to answer them in writing and Lady Brittan and the family await his response.“Lady Brittan went on to ask and table some 30 questions regarding the two police enquiries as they related to Lord Brittan. Sir Bernard promised to answer them in writing and Lady Brittan and the family await his response.
“Lady Brittan and the family have nothing further to add at least until they have received Sir Bernard’s written response.”“Lady Brittan and the family have nothing further to add at least until they have received Sir Bernard’s written response.”
The meeting lasted an hour and twenty minutes and took place at the Goring hotel in Belgravia, close to Scotland Yard’s central London’s headquarters. The meeting lasted an hour and twenty minutes and took place at the Goring hotel in Belgravia, close to Scotland Yard’s headquarters in central London.
Britain’s largest police force has come under fire over its handling of the claim that Lord Brittan raped a 19-year-old woman known as “Jane” in 1967. Britain’s largest police force has come under fire over its handling of the claim that the late Tory peer raped a 19-year-old woman known as “Jane” in 1967. Brittan died in January last year without being told he would not face any action over the claim.
He died in January last year without being told he would not face any action over the claim.
Related: Operation Midland has not found enough evidence to charge any suspectsRelated: Operation Midland has not found enough evidence to charge any suspects
Sir Bernard told BBC Radio London: “I have [apologised to Lord Brittan’s widow] this afternoon. Hogan-Howe told BBC Radio London: “I have [apologised to Lord Brittan’s widow] this afternoon.
“We had a private conversation. It was a constructive one and I hope she found it helpful. I confirmed the apology that we made some months ago now.“We had a private conversation. It was a constructive one and I hope she found it helpful. I confirmed the apology that we made some months ago now.
“It is an apology for not telling her at an early stage about the fact that Lord Brittan, who by that stage unfortunately had died, was not to be prosecuted in the future.“It is an apology for not telling her at an early stage about the fact that Lord Brittan, who by that stage unfortunately had died, was not to be prosecuted in the future.
“There was no chance of successful prosecution ... I thought it was important to meet her.”“There was no chance of successful prosecution ... I thought it was important to meet her.”
Hogan-Howe added: “The only reason it’s not been made in person [before now] is because we couldn’t make the necessary arrangements for the meeting. I won’t go into the reasons for that.”Hogan-Howe added: “The only reason it’s not been made in person [before now] is because we couldn’t make the necessary arrangements for the meeting. I won’t go into the reasons for that.”
In October police apologised to Lady Brittan, saying she should have been informed earlier that there would not have been a prosecution had her husband been alive.In October police apologised to Lady Brittan, saying she should have been informed earlier that there would not have been a prosecution had her husband been alive.
Lord Brittan has also been named in connection with the hugely controversial Operation Midland, a separate inquiry into allegations of a VIP paedophile gang.Lord Brittan has also been named in connection with the hugely controversial Operation Midland, a separate inquiry into allegations of a VIP paedophile gang.