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Last living suspect in VIP paedophile ring inquiry will not face charges Operation Midland: inquiry into alleged VIP paedophile ring collapses
(35 minutes later)
The last living suspect at the centre of a police investigation into an alleged VIP paedophile ring that was accused of killing three children has been told he will face no charges. The police investigation into an alleged VIP paedophile ring that was accused of killing three children has collapsed.
Harvey Proctor, the former Conservative MP, was given the news on Monday afternoon following a conversation between his solicitors and a senior Met officer. The Metropolitan police confirmed on Monday afternoon that Operation Midland had closed after 16 months of investigation.
It is understood that the police found no evidence to substantiate claims from a single witness, known only as Nick, that Proctor had murdered two boys and helped to organise the murder of another. The force made a statement shortly after the last living suspect in the inquiry said he had been told he would face no charges. Harvey Proctor, the former Conservative MP, was given the news on Monday afternoon following a conversation between his solicitors and a senior Met officer.
The development means that the hugely controversial police inquiry is now on the verge of collapse following a high-profile investigation that involved raids on the homes of Proctor, the late Lord Brittan and the war hero Lord Bramall. Related: Operation Midland: how the Met lost its way
A statement from the Met said: “A man in his 60s who was previously interviewed under caution has today, Monday 21 March, been advised by officers working on Operation Midland that he will face no further action.
“Operation Midland has now closed.”
It is understood the police found no evidence to substantiate claims from a single witness, known only as Nick, that Proctor had murdered two boys and helped to organise the murder of another.
The decision to clear Proctor is a humiliating admission for the Met, which had previously described his accuser’s allegations as “credible and true”.The decision to clear Proctor is a humiliating admission for the Met, which had previously described his accuser’s allegations as “credible and true”.
The Met has not yet said if it will continue inquiries into dead alleged abusers of Nick such as Edward Heath, Leon Brittan and Greville Janner. The high-profile investigation has involved raids on the homes of Proctor, the late Lord Brittan and the war hero Lord Bramall.
A spokesman for the Met was unable to comment on Operation Midland. It is understood that a statement is expected to be released by the Met later on Monday.
In his statement, Proctor called for the resignations of senior officers involved in the inquiry and an independent inquiry into Operation Midland.In his statement, Proctor called for the resignations of senior officers involved in the inquiry and an independent inquiry into Operation Midland.
“I have been advised that the Metropolitan police service have informed my solicitors that they intend to take no further action with regard to my involvement with Operation Midland. “I have been advised that the Metropolitan police service have informed my solicitors that they intend to take no further action with regard to my involvement with Operation Midland. I believe Operation Midland should now be the subject of a truly independent public inquiry.
“I believe Operation Midland should now be the subject of a truely independent public inquiry.
“I consider that Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Patricia Gallan, Steve Rodhouse and Kenny McDonald should tender their resignations from the Metropolitan police service forthwith,” he said.“I consider that Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Patricia Gallan, Steve Rodhouse and Kenny McDonald should tender their resignations from the Metropolitan police service forthwith,” he said.
Proctor has also called for his accuser and the website Exaro, which published or sold stories based on many of the claims, to be prosecuted. Proctor has also called for his accuser and the news website Exaro, which published or sold stories based on many of the claims, to be prosecuted.
Operation Midland has been running for 15 months and has cost in excess of £2m as it examines the allegations that a paedophile ring containing powerful establishment figures abused him from the age of seven until he was 16 and was responsible for the murders of three young boys. Operation Midland has been running for 16 months and has cost in excess of £2m as it examines the allegations of one complainant, known as Nick, that a paedophile ring containing powerful establishment figures abused him from the age of seven until he was 16 and was responsible for the murders of three young boys.
Proctor – who has vehemently denied the claims – said MPs including Tom Watson, Zac Goldsmith and John Mann, who made public comments which pre-empted the end of the inquiry should apologise on the floor of the Commons. Proctor – who vehemently denied the claims – said MPs including Tom Watson, Zac Goldsmith and John Mann, who made public comments that pre-empted the end of the inquiry, should apologise on the floor of the House of Commons.
The apparent winding down of the high-profile investigation is being seen as a huge blow to the reputation of Scotland Yard, and the commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe. The apparent winding down of the high-profile investigation is being seen as a huge blow to the reputation of Scotland Yard, and its commissioner, Hogan-Howe.
Nick, a man in his forties, made allegations to his local police – it is understood – in 2012 when he reported sexual and physical abuse by his step father, a military figure. Officers did not pursue the investigation because the man in question had died several years before. Nick, a man in his 40s, made allegations to his local police – it is understood – in 2012, when he reported sexual and physical abuse by his stepfather, a military figure. Officers did not pursue the investigation because the man in question had died several years before.
He has also been in contact with the National Association for people abused in childhood. He emerged as a complainant to the Metropolitan police following Tom Watson’s allegations in Parliament in 2012 of the existence of a “powerful paedophile network linked to parliament and No 10”. He had also been in contact with the National Association for People Abused in Childhood. He emerged as a complainant to the Metropolitan police following Tom Watson’s allegations in parliament in 2012 of the existence of a “powerful paedophile network linked to parliament and No 10”.
Contacted by the news website, Exaro, he made his allegations first on the news website, and later underwent three long police interviews which led to the opening of the investigation known as Operation Midland in November 2014. Contacted by Exaro, Nick made his allegations first on the news website, and later underwent three lengthy police interviews that led to the opening of Operation Midland in November 2014.
The inquiry was examining Nick’s allegations that he and other young boys were sexually abused between 1975 and 1984 at various locations across London and the Home Counties including military establishments. The venues included a flat in Dolphin Square, Pimlico, near Westminster. The inquiry examined Nick’s allegations that he and other young boys were sexually abused between 1975 and 1984 at various locations across London and the Home Counties, including military establishments. The venues included a flat in Dolphin Square, near Westminster.
As a result of Nick’s allegations officers opened murder inquiries into the killing of three young boys. But they never established the identities of the victims, recovered any bodies or linked the allegations to reports of young boys who had gone missing in the period in question.As a result of Nick’s allegations officers opened murder inquiries into the killing of three young boys. But they never established the identities of the victims, recovered any bodies or linked the allegations to reports of young boys who had gone missing in the period in question.
In December 2014 Scotland Yard held a press conference in which they revealed they were investigating the murders of three young boys and the abuse of children which had taken place over a decade at the various locations. Most significantly a senior officer on the homicide command, detective superintendent Kenny McDonald, said the claims by the witness Nick were “credible and true”. In December 2014, Scotland Yard held a press conference in which they revealed they were investigating the murders of three young boys and the abuse of children which had taken place over a decade at the various locations. Most significantly a senior officer on the homicide command, detective superintendent Kenny McDonald, said the claims by the witness Nick were “credible and true”.
Police always acknowledged the investigation was complicated and difficult. It was also carried out in the public glare after Nick described his allegations first to the news website Exaro, and later to the BBC.Police always acknowledged the investigation was complicated and difficult. It was also carried out in the public glare after Nick described his allegations first to the news website Exaro, and later to the BBC.
Nick’s allegations centred around a number of figures in the establishment at the time. These included the Proctor, Brittan the former home secretary, Bramall, former head of the armed forces, and the former heads of MI5 and MI6 – all of whom were said to have been part of the savage paedophile ring which killed three boys. Nick’s allegations centred around a number of figures in the establishment at the time. These included Proctor; Brittan, a former home secretary; Bramall, a former head of the armed forces; and the former heads of MI5 and MI6, all of whom were said to have been part of the savage paedophile ring that killed three boys.
Bramall’s home was searched by 20 officers and he was interviewed under caution. Proctor also had his home searched and was interviewed under caution twice by detectives.Bramall’s home was searched by 20 officers and he was interviewed under caution. Proctor also had his home searched and was interviewed under caution twice by detectives.
It was Proctor who revealed publicly that Nick had named another figure in the ring as the late prime minister Sir Edward Heath the late Sir Maurice Oldfield, former head of MI6, as well as the late Sir Michael Hanley, former director-general of MI5. It was Proctor who revealed publicly that Nick had named another figure in the ring as the late prime minister, Sir Edward Heath; the late Sir Maurice Oldfield, former head of MI6, as well as the late Sir Michael Hanley, former director-general of MI5.
Proctor said he was personally accused by Nick of participating in two murders and aiding in a third murder of young boys, along with numerous other claims of torture and rape against Nick and other boys.Proctor said he was personally accused by Nick of participating in two murders and aiding in a third murder of young boys, along with numerous other claims of torture and rape against Nick and other boys.
He has denied all of Nick’s allegations. Both Proctor and Bramall have called for Nick to be prosecuted for wasting police time.He has denied all of Nick’s allegations. Both Proctor and Bramall have called for Nick to be prosecuted for wasting police time.
But some are defending the approach of the Metropolitan police. Pete Saunders, from the National Association for People Abused in Childhood said: “I have been dealing with the police for 20 years. They do get it wrong sometimes, we all do, but generally speaking they know when they are dealing with someone that is credible and they know when they are dealing with a liar. I don’t think they would have gone down the route of a major investigation and putting in these resources unless they had a really firm idea that there was something worth investigating. But some are defending the approach of the Metropolitan police. Pete Saunders, from the National Association for People Abused in Childhood, said: “I have been dealing with the police for 20 years. They do get it wrong sometimes, we all do, but generally speaking they know when they are dealing with someone that is credible and they know when they are dealing with a liar. I don’t think they would have gone down the route of a major investigation and putting in these resources unless they had a really firm idea that there was something worth investigating.
Despite the apparent winding down of the inquiry, murder investigations are never closed. Should new information emerge the inquiry could be reviewed. Meanwhile the investigation into Nick’s allegations will be examined by the Goddard Inquiry into sexual abuse in institutions, which is likely to call senior officers and others to what will be one of the first public hearings the inquiry carries out. Despite the winding down of the inquiry, murder investigations are never closed. Should new information emerge the inquiry could be reviewed. Meanwhile the investigation into Nick’s allegations will be examined by the Goddard Inquiry into sexual abuse in institutions, which is likely to call senior officers and others to what will be one of the first public hearings the inquiry carries out.
Goddard has said the investigation will be “an objective fact-finding inquiry” focusing on high-profile allegations of child sexual abuse involving current or former members of parliament, senior civil servants, government advisers and members of the intelligence and security agencies.Goddard has said the investigation will be “an objective fact-finding inquiry” focusing on high-profile allegations of child sexual abuse involving current or former members of parliament, senior civil servants, government advisers and members of the intelligence and security agencies.