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Operation Midland: Harvey Proctor criticises 'un-British' child abuse inquiry Operation Midland: Harvey Proctor criticises child abuse inquiry for ruining life
(35 minutes later)
A former MP who was cleared of being part of a VIP Westminster ring said the Metropolitan Police's investigation was "profoundly un-British and unfair". A former MP, cleared of being part of a VIP Westminster ring, said the Metropolitan Police's investigation "irreparably ruined my life".
Harvey Proctor, 69, had his home raided as part of the controversial Operation Midland inquiry, which closed last week with no charges brought. Harvey Proctor, 69, had his home raided and was questioned as part of Operation Midland, which closed last week with no charges brought.
He called on four Met chiefs to resign - the force has previously said it had been right to look into the claim. He said the Met enabled him to be "wrongly depicted as a paedophile, child abuser and child murderer".
He said the Met enabled him to be "wrongly depicted as a paedophile". "These are the worst things that can be said of a human being", he said.
Mr Proctor, who was a Tory MP from 1979 to 1987 for the Essex constituencies of Basildon and then Billericay, was interviewed under caution in August 2015 as part of Operation Midland. He had always vehemently denied the allegations.Mr Proctor, who was a Tory MP from 1979 to 1987 for the Essex constituencies of Basildon and then Billericay, was interviewed under caution in August 2015 as part of Operation Midland. He had always vehemently denied the allegations.
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.
'Ruined my life''Ruined my life'
"I do believe it is profoundly un-British and unfair," Mr Proctor said during a press conference. 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.
"I do believe it is profoundly un-British and unfair," Mr Proctor said during an emotional press conference.
"I believe I have been pilloried and the Met police service has enabled me to be wrongly depicted as a paedophile, child abuser, child murder."I believe I have been pilloried and the Met police service has enabled me to be wrongly depicted as a paedophile, child abuser, child murder.
"These are the worst things that can be said of a human being. "These are the worst things that can be said of a human being."
"I think they regarded me to be disposable. What was Operation Midland?
"I hope they are proud of themselves for irreparably ruining my life. Established in November 2014, Operation Midland was triggered by allegations made by a man in his 40s known as "Nick". It was set up to examine claims of a Westminster VIP paedophile ring, with allegations boys were abused and murdered by a group of powerful men from politics, the military and law enforcement agencies.
The inquiry related to locations across southern England and London in the 1970s and 1980s, and focused on the private Dolphin Square estate in Pimlico, south-west London.
Operation Midland was closed without charges after 16 months. It had cost more than £1.8 million. The Met said it had not found enough evidence to bring charges, but defended the decision to investigate the claims as "absolutely right".
Historical child abuse: Key investigations
Breaking down in tears, Mr Proctor said he felt the police had regarded him as "disposable".
"I hope they are proud of themselves for irreparably ruining my life," he said.
"It would be best if those senior police officers associated with Operation Midland... remove themselves from the police service.""It would be best if those senior police officers associated with Operation Midland... remove themselves from the police service."
Detectives working on Operation Midland questioned Mr Proctor twice - in June and August last year.Detectives working on Operation Midland questioned Mr Proctor twice - in June and August last year.
Mr Proctor said: "It has been a harrowing time for me, for my family and for my friends. The tremor I have experienced, I would not wish on anyone, not even on 'Nick'"Mr Proctor said: "It has been a harrowing time for me, for my family and for my friends. The tremor I have experienced, I would not wish on anyone, not even on 'Nick'"
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.
Who is Harvey Proctor?
Harvey Proctor was born in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, and served as a Conservative MP from 1979 to 1987, representing the Essex constituencies of Basildon and then Billericay.
In 1986, allegations surrounding his sex life appeared in a Sunday newspaper, claiming he had been involved with male prostitutes aged between 17 and 21.
The legal age of consent for gay men at the time was 21 and Mr Proctor was charged with gross indecency. He resigned as an MP shortly before his trial in May 1987, where he pleaded guilty and was fined £1,450.
The following year he opened two shops selling luxury shirts, with financial support from some former colleagues.
In 1992, two men assaulted Mr Proctor in his Richmond-upon-Thames shop. Neil Hamilton, who was a government minister at the time, was also in the shop and had his nose broken in the incident.
In 2000, Mr Proctor's stores were forced into liquidation after legal action by Customs and Excise over an unpaid VAT bill.
Between 2003 and 2015, he was private secretary to the Duke of Rutland at Belvoir Castle, a 16,000-acre site of farmland and woodland in Leicestershire.