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| Bernard Hogan-Howe refuses to apologise over Bramall investigation | Bernard Hogan-Howe refuses to apologise over Bramall investigation |
| (6 months later) | |
| Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan police commissioner, has refused to apologise for his force’s investigation into sexual abuse allegations against former army chief Lord Bramall in the face of a grilling from MPs. | Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan police commissioner, has refused to apologise for his force’s investigation into sexual abuse allegations against former army chief Lord Bramall in the face of a grilling from MPs. |
| Appearing before the home affairs select committee on Tuesday, a defiant Hogan-Howe said he would not be “bullied” into saying sorry for the force’s handling of claims against Bramall, who was ultimately told by police he would face no further action. | Appearing before the home affairs select committee on Tuesday, a defiant Hogan-Howe said he would not be “bullied” into saying sorry for the force’s handling of claims against Bramall, who was ultimately told by police he would face no further action. |
| The 92-year-old former chief of defence staff and Normandy veteran was interviewed under caution last April by Metropolitan police officers working on controversial murder and abuse investigation Operation Midland. His home in Farnham, Surrey, was raided by 20 officers but he has not been formally arrested and has always denied the allegations. His wife, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and has since died, was at home at the time of the raid. | The 92-year-old former chief of defence staff and Normandy veteran was interviewed under caution last April by Metropolitan police officers working on controversial murder and abuse investigation Operation Midland. His home in Farnham, Surrey, was raided by 20 officers but he has not been formally arrested and has always denied the allegations. His wife, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and has since died, was at home at the time of the raid. |
| MPs on the committee pushed Hogan-Howe to apologise for the force’s investigation and the length of time it took to inform Bramall that he faced no further action. | MPs on the committee pushed Hogan-Howe to apologise for the force’s investigation and the length of time it took to inform Bramall that he faced no further action. |
| Asked by Tim Loughton if he would apologise given the coverage given to Bramall’s case, Hogan-Howe said: “If you want me to be bullied into apologising that isn’t going to happen. | Asked by Tim Loughton if he would apologise given the coverage given to Bramall’s case, Hogan-Howe said: “If you want me to be bullied into apologising that isn’t going to happen. |
| “I can’t say that I am [going to apologise], not at the moment. I’ve said that at least four times today.” | “I can’t say that I am [going to apologise], not at the moment. I’ve said that at least four times today.” |
| Scotland Yard was also scrutinised over its inquiry, which was eventually dropped, into a claim that former home secretary Leon Brittan raped a 19-year-old woman known as “Jane” in 1967. | Scotland Yard was also scrutinised over its inquiry, which was eventually dropped, into a claim that former home secretary Leon Brittan raped a 19-year-old woman known as “Jane” in 1967. |
| Lord Brittan, who denied the allegation, was interviewed under caution in May 2014 while suffering from terminal cancer. He died in January last year, aged 75. | Lord Brittan, who denied the allegation, was interviewed under caution in May 2014 while suffering from terminal cancer. He died in January last year, aged 75. |
| Hogan-Howe later apologised to Brittan’s widow in person for not telling her earlier that her husband would not have been prosecuted over the allegation if he had been alive. | Hogan-Howe later apologised to Brittan’s widow in person for not telling her earlier that her husband would not have been prosecuted over the allegation if he had been alive. |
| Asked how the Brittan and Bramall cases differed, Hogan-Howe told the committee: “There was something to apologise for in our delay in telling her about the outcome of the inquiry and in Lord Bramall’s case … there is nothing clearly to apologise for.” | Asked how the Brittan and Bramall cases differed, Hogan-Howe told the committee: “There was something to apologise for in our delay in telling her about the outcome of the inquiry and in Lord Bramall’s case … there is nothing clearly to apologise for.” |
| Pressed by Loughton in a heated exchange, Hogan-Howe said: “At the moment I see no reason for that apology to be there. There was an investigation and a file had to be considered and that seems to be a reasonable explanation. Suspects have to wait for the outcome of the investigation.” | Pressed by Loughton in a heated exchange, Hogan-Howe said: “At the moment I see no reason for that apology to be there. There was an investigation and a file had to be considered and that seems to be a reasonable explanation. Suspects have to wait for the outcome of the investigation.” |
| Loughton argued that a disproportionate time was taken up by Brittan and Bramall’s cases due to their high-profile status, which had undermined confidence in the force. | Loughton argued that a disproportionate time was taken up by Brittan and Bramall’s cases due to their high-profile status, which had undermined confidence in the force. |
| “I couldn’t disagree more,” the commissioner fired back. “In this case [Bramall] it’s not possible to apologise for an investigation. We don’t treat anyone differently by their background, or only apologise to people because they’re famous.” | “I couldn’t disagree more,” the commissioner fired back. “In this case [Bramall] it’s not possible to apologise for an investigation. We don’t treat anyone differently by their background, or only apologise to people because they’re famous.” |
| There have been suggestions that Operation Midland, which had cost £1.8 million as of November, is on the brink of collapse amid questions about the reliability of the central witness in the investigation, a man known as “Nick”. | There have been suggestions that Operation Midland, which had cost £1.8 million as of November, is on the brink of collapse amid questions about the reliability of the central witness in the investigation, a man known as “Nick”. |
| Earlier this month it was confirmed Hogan-Howe will remain in his post until at least September next year, after the home secretary awarded him a one-year contract extension. | Earlier this month it was confirmed Hogan-Howe will remain in his post until at least September next year, after the home secretary awarded him a one-year contract extension. |