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| Police hand Cliff Richard sexual abuse claims to prosecutors, sources say | Police hand Cliff Richard sexual abuse claims to prosecutors, sources say |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Prosecutors are considering whether to bring charges against the veteran entertainer Sir Cliff Richard over allegations of historical sexual abuse. | Prosecutors are considering whether to bring charges against the veteran entertainer Sir Cliff Richard over allegations of historical sexual abuse. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service was handed a file of evidence from South Yorkshire police on Tuesday to consider whether there is a realistic prospect of conviction over an allegation that Richard sexually assaulted a boy in the 1980s. | |
| The 75-year-old pop star, who has had a string of No 1 hits including Living Doll and Congratulations, has been interviewed under caution by the police force but has not been formally arrested or charged. He denies any wrongdoing and would not comment on the most recent developments. | The 75-year-old pop star, who has had a string of No 1 hits including Living Doll and Congratulations, has been interviewed under caution by the police force but has not been formally arrested or charged. He denies any wrongdoing and would not comment on the most recent developments. |
| It has been previously reported that Richard had been accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old at a Christian rally led by the US evangelist Billy Graham in Sheffield in 1985. | It has been previously reported that Richard had been accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old at a Christian rally led by the US evangelist Billy Graham in Sheffield in 1985. |
| Details of the inquiry into the allegations emerged in August 2014 when the BBC revealed police officers had raided the singer’s Berkshire home. The BBC showed helicopter footage of detectives entering the singer’s property after the broadcaster was tipped off about the raid. | Details of the inquiry into the allegations emerged in August 2014 when the BBC revealed police officers had raided the singer’s Berkshire home. The BBC showed helicopter footage of detectives entering the singer’s property after the broadcaster was tipped off about the raid. |
| An inquiry by MPs on the home affairs select committee found that it was wrong of South Yorkshire police to publicly confirm Richard’s name as a suspect and to then “cut a deal” with the broadcaster. | An inquiry by MPs on the home affairs select committee found that it was wrong of South Yorkshire police to publicly confirm Richard’s name as a suspect and to then “cut a deal” with the broadcaster. |
| A report commissioned by the county’s then police and crime commissioner also found that the move “certainly interfered with his privacy and may well have caused unnecessary distress”. | A report commissioned by the county’s then police and crime commissioner also found that the move “certainly interfered with his privacy and may well have caused unnecessary distress”. |
| The CPS said on Tuesday it would consider the evidence compiled by police. | The CPS said on Tuesday it would consider the evidence compiled by police. |
| A CPS spokeswoman said: “We have received a full file of evidence from South Yorkshire police. We will now carefully consider its contents in line with the code for crown prosecutors, in order to establish whether there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction, and whether it is in the public interest to do so.” | A CPS spokeswoman said: “We have received a full file of evidence from South Yorkshire police. We will now carefully consider its contents in line with the code for crown prosecutors, in order to establish whether there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction, and whether it is in the public interest to do so.” |
| A South Yorkshire police spokeswoman said: “Investigation files relating to allegations of non-recent sexual abuse involving a 75 year-old man have been handed over to the CPS. The CPS will now consider the matter and SYP awaits their decision.” | A South Yorkshire police spokeswoman said: “Investigation files relating to allegations of non-recent sexual abuse involving a 75 year-old man have been handed over to the CPS. The CPS will now consider the matter and SYP awaits their decision.” |
| A spokesman for Richard said: “It would be inappropriate to comment while the matter is under review.’’ | A spokesman for Richard said: “It would be inappropriate to comment while the matter is under review.’’ |