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| Operation Midland: Harvey Proctor criticises child abuse inquiry for ruining life | Operation Midland: Harvey Proctor criticises child abuse inquiry for ruining life |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A former MP, cleared of being part of an alleged VIP Westminster paedophile ring, said the Metropolitan Police's inquiry "irreparably ruined my life". | A former MP, cleared of being part of an alleged VIP Westminster paedophile ring, said the Metropolitan Police's inquiry "irreparably ruined my life". |
| Harvey Proctor, 69, had his home raided and was questioned as part of Operation Midland, 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 said the Met had enabled him to be "wrongly depicted as a paedophile, child abuser and child murderer". | He said the Met had enabled him to be "wrongly depicted as a paedophile, child abuser and child murderer". |
| The Met has said it was "absolutely right" to investigate the claims. | The Met has said it was "absolutely right" to investigate the claims. |
| The Home Office said decisions on investigating allegations was a matter for police forces. | |
| 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 has 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 has 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. | 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. |
| "Nick" also claimed three boys were murdered by the alleged paedophile ring. | "Nick" also claimed three boys were murdered by the alleged paedophile ring. |
| 'Ruined my life' | 'Ruined my life' |
| At an emotional press conference, Mr Proctor said he had been through a "harrowing" experience, and called on Home Secretary Theresa May to "consider her position". | At an emotional press conference, Mr Proctor said he had been through a "harrowing" experience, and called on Home Secretary Theresa May to "consider her position". |
| Breaking down in tears, he said he felt the police had regarded him as "disposable", and he had lost his home and his job as a result of the allegations. | Breaking down in tears, he said he felt the police had regarded him as "disposable", and he had lost his home and his job as a result of the allegations. |
| "I do believe it is profoundly un-British and unfair." | |
| "I believe I have been pilloried and the Met Police service has enabled me to be wrongly depicted as a paedophile, child abuser, child murderer. | |
| "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." |
| He added: "It has been a harrowing time for me, for my family and for my friends. The trauma I have experienced, I would not wish on anyone, not even on 'Nick'." | He added: "It has been a harrowing time for me, for my family and for my friends. The trauma I have experienced, I would not wish on anyone, not even on 'Nick'." |
| What was Operation Midland? | What was Operation Midland? |
| 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. | 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. | 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 cost more than £1.8m. The Met said it had not found enough evidence to bring charges, but defended the decision to investigate the claims as "absolutely right". | Operation Midland was closed without charges after 16 months. It cost more than £1.8m. 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 | Historical child abuse: Key investigations |
| Mr Proctor repeated a call for senior police officers associated with Operation Midland - including the Met's police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe - to "remove themselves from the police service". | Mr Proctor repeated a call for senior police officers associated with Operation Midland - including the Met's police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe - to "remove themselves from the police service". |
| He also claimed the public inquiry into historical child abuse and a separate judge-led probe into how Scotland Yard dealt with claims against public figures would be "a whitewash". | |
| "The outcome of these two fake inquiries will be a whitewash and a cover-up and a deliberate exercise in kicking the issue into the long grass until the architects of the scandal have moved on to collect their pensions," the former politician said. | "The outcome of these two fake inquiries will be a whitewash and a cover-up and a deliberate exercise in kicking the issue into the long grass until the architects of the scandal have moved on to collect their pensions," the former politician said. |
| He later added: "Operation Midland has had a disastrous effect on genuine complaints of child sexual abuse, both present and historical. I think it has been incredibly counterproductive." | He later added: "Operation Midland has had a disastrous effect on genuine complaints of child sexual abuse, both present and historical. I think it has been incredibly counterproductive." |
| 'Right to investigate' | 'Right to investigate' |
| As it announced Operation Midland was closing, the Met said it recognised it had been "unpleasant" for those investigated to have their innocence publicly called into question. | As it announced Operation Midland was closing, the Met said it recognised it had been "unpleasant" for those investigated to have their innocence publicly called into question. |
| However, the force said it would not apologise "for carrying out its duty to investigate serious allegations of non-recent abuse". | However, the force said it would not apologise "for carrying out its duty to investigate serious allegations of non-recent abuse". |
| Deputy Assistant Commissioner Rodhouse said such investigations were challenging, but it was "absolutely right" that the claims had been investigated. | Deputy Assistant Commissioner Rodhouse said such investigations were challenging, but it was "absolutely right" that the claims had been investigated. |
| "Victims of non-recent abuse should have the confidence to come forward and know that we will listen to them, take seriously their allegations and investigate without fear or favour." | "Victims of non-recent abuse should have the confidence to come forward and know that we will listen to them, take seriously their allegations and investigate without fear or favour." |
| A Home Office spokesman said: "We have been absolutely clear that where an allegation of child sexual abuse is made, whether it occurred now or in the past, it should be reported to the police so that they can thoroughly investigate and establish the facts. | |
| "Decisions on investigating those allegations are a matter for police forces, held to account by their police and crime commissioner." | |
| Who is Harvey Proctor? | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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. |