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Harvey Proctor: Ex-MP faces no further police action Harvey Proctor: Ex-MP faces no further police action
(35 minutes later)
The Metropolitan Police has told former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor he faces no further action over claims that he was involved in child abuse and murder.The Metropolitan Police has told former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor he faces no further action over claims that he was involved in child abuse and murder.
Mr Proctor, 69, was interviewed under caution last August as part of the controversial Operation Midland, an inquiry into claims that powerful men abused children in the 1970s and 1980s.Mr Proctor, 69, was interviewed under caution last August as part of the controversial Operation Midland, an inquiry into claims that powerful men abused children in the 1970s and 1980s.
At the time he blamed a "homosexual witch hunt" by police for the claims.
Following the latest news, he called on several top police officials to resign.Following the latest news, he called on several top police officials to resign.
The Met is expected to make an announcement shortly, bringing to an end the active investigation of living suspects named by a man in his 40s known as "Nick" whose allegations triggered the inquiry, the BBC's Tom Symonds said. Scotland Yard said it was now closing Operation Midland.
The development comes amid mounting speculation that the force is poised to announce the winding-up of the inquiry, which was launched in November 2014. The investigation, which began in November 2014, was triggered by allegations made by a man in his 40s known as "Nick", who claimed he was abused for nine years from 1975, when he was seven, to 1984.
More people came forward to provide information but there was not enough evidence to charge anyone - although there was nothing to prove police had been knowingly misled by a complainant, the Met said in a detailed statement.
The 31 officers assigned to the inquiry have been released to work on other investigations, it said.
A freedom of information request made last year states that staffing costs for the inquiry were in the region of £1.8 million at that point.
'Truly independent inquiry''Truly independent inquiry'
Mr Proctor thanked his friends and family for their support, and said Operation Midland should now be the subject of a "truly independent public inquiry".
He called for the resignation of Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Assistant Commissioner Patricia Gallan, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Rodhouse and Det Supt Kenny McDonald, who has overseen Operation Midland.
"Nick" and ExaroNews, a news agency which had reported on the story, should be prosecuted for allegedly "seeking to pervert the course of justice", he added.
Mr Proctor's lawyer was told the former MP would not face any charges in a three-minute phone conversation with a senior Met Police officer.Mr Proctor's lawyer was told the former MP would not face any charges in a three-minute phone conversation with a senior Met Police officer.
In a statement, Mr Proctor, who was MP from 1979 to 1987 for the Essex constituencies of Basildon and then Billericay, said Operation Midland should now be the subject of a "truly independent public inquiry".
He also called for the resignation of Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Assistant Commissioner Patricia Gallan, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Rodhouse and Det Supt Kenny McDonald, the officer leading Operation Midland.
"Nick" and ExaroNews, a news agency which had reported on the story, should be prosecuted for allegedly "seeking to pervert the course of justice", he added.
Detectives working on Operation Midland had questioned Mr Proctor twice - in June and August last year.Detectives working on Operation Midland had questioned Mr Proctor twice - in June and August last year.
Mr Proctor, who admitted gross indecency after a newspaper sting in 1986 when the age of consent for gay sex was 21, categorically denied the later allegations, and said they had "wrecked" his life.Mr Proctor, who admitted gross indecency after a newspaper sting in 1986 when the age of consent for gay sex was 21, categorically denied the later allegations, and said they had "wrecked" his life.
When questioned last year, he blamed a "homosexual witch hunt" by police for the claims.
What was Operation Midland?What was Operation Midland?
Established in November 2014, Operation Midland was set up to examine claims boys were abused by a group of powerful men from politics, the military and law enforcement agencies. Established in November 2014, Operation Midland was set up to examine historical claims of a Westminster VIP paedophile ring, with allegations boys were abused by a group of powerful men from politics, the military and law enforcement agencies.
The claims related to locations across southern England and in London in the 1970s and 1980s. The inquiry was also intended to examine claims three boys were murdered. Operation Midland related to locations across southern England and in London in the 1970s and 1980s, and focused on the private Dolphin Square estate in Pimlico, south-west London.
The inquiry was also intended to examine claims three boys were murdered. Operation Midland focused on the private Dolphin Square estate in Pimlico, south-west London. Among others accused by "Nick" were Sir Edward Heath, prime minister between 1970 and 1974, former home secretary Lord Brittan. and the then commander in chief of UK land forces, General Edwin Bramall.
Lord Bramall was cleared in January this year. Police said they had found insufficient evidence even to justify passing the case to prosecutors.
Lord Brittan died last year unaware that an investigation into a rape claim against him, which he denied, had been dropped.
The police took Nick's claims very seriously and appealed for witnesses. Det Supt MacDonald said detectives considered what "Nick" told them to be "credible and true".