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| Sir Cliff Richard sex abuse inquiry: No charges for singer | Sir Cliff Richard sex abuse inquiry: No charges for singer |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Singer Sir Cliff Richard will face no further action over allegations of historical sex abuse, prosecutors say. | Singer Sir Cliff Richard will face no further action over allegations of historical sex abuse, prosecutors say. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service said it had decided there was "insufficient evidence to prosecute". | |
| Sir Cliff said he was "obviously thrilled that the vile accusations and the resulting investigation have finally been brought to a close". | Sir Cliff said he was "obviously thrilled that the vile accusations and the resulting investigation have finally been brought to a close". |
| But he said his naming by the media despite not being charged meant he had been "hung out like live bait". | |
| Four men claimed offences took place between 1958 and 1983, the CPS said. | Four men claimed offences took place between 1958 and 1983, the CPS said. |
| In a statement, Sir Cliff said: "I have always maintained my innocence, cooperated fully with the investigation, and cannot understand why it has taken so long to get to this point." | In a statement, Sir Cliff said: "I have always maintained my innocence, cooperated fully with the investigation, and cannot understand why it has taken so long to get to this point." |
| He criticised the "high-profile fumbling of my case from day one". | He criticised the "high-profile fumbling of my case from day one". |
| "Other than in exceptional cases, people who are facing allegations should never be named publicly until charged," he said. | "Other than in exceptional cases, people who are facing allegations should never be named publicly until charged," he said. |
| "I was named before I was even interviewed and for me that was like being hung out like 'live bait'. | "I was named before I was even interviewed and for me that was like being hung out like 'live bait'. |
| "It is obvious that such strategies simply increase the risk of attracting spurious claims which not only tie up police resources and waste public funds, but they forever tarnish the reputations of innocent people." | "It is obvious that such strategies simply increase the risk of attracting spurious claims which not only tie up police resources and waste public funds, but they forever tarnish the reputations of innocent people." |
| Filmed raid | Filmed raid |
| He added: "Ever since the highly-publicised and BBC-filmed raid on my home I have chosen not to speak publicly. | He added: "Ever since the highly-publicised and BBC-filmed raid on my home I have chosen not to speak publicly. |
| "Even though I was under pressure to 'speak out', other than to state my innocence, which was easy for me to do as I have never molested anyone in my life, I chose to remain silent." | "Even though I was under pressure to 'speak out', other than to state my innocence, which was easy for me to do as I have never molested anyone in my life, I chose to remain silent." |
| Last year an independent investigation concluded that South Yorkshire Police should not have released "highly confidential" information to the BBC about a planned search of Sir Cliff Richard's home. | Last year an independent investigation concluded that South Yorkshire Police should not have released "highly confidential" information to the BBC about a planned search of Sir Cliff Richard's home. |
| BBC film crews, including one in a helicopter, filmed the raid in August 2014. | BBC film crews, including one in a helicopter, filmed the raid in August 2014. |
| In a statement, South Yorkshire Police apologised "wholeheartedly for the additional anxiety caused" to Sir Cliff by the force's "initial handling of the media interest" in its investigation. | In a statement, South Yorkshire Police apologised "wholeheartedly for the additional anxiety caused" to Sir Cliff by the force's "initial handling of the media interest" in its investigation. |
| The investigation is estimated to have cost "in the region of £800,000" including staffing costs, the force added. | The investigation is estimated to have cost "in the region of £800,000" including staffing costs, the force added. |
| "Non-recent allegations are, by their very nature, complex and difficult matters to investigate and can take a considerable amount of time," it said. | "Non-recent allegations are, by their very nature, complex and difficult matters to investigate and can take a considerable amount of time," it said. |
| "We appreciate that waiting for a conclusion will undoubtedly have caused additional distress to all those involved and we have made every effort to ensure this has been as timely as possible. | "We appreciate that waiting for a conclusion will undoubtedly have caused additional distress to all those involved and we have made every effort to ensure this has been as timely as possible. |
| "However, it is in the interests of justice to investigate such matters thoroughly." | "However, it is in the interests of justice to investigate such matters thoroughly." |
| Sir Cliff Richard profile | |
| 'Serious questions' | 'Serious questions' |
| Prosecutors received the full evidence file from police on 10 May, and BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said that meant the CPS had made its decision "quite quickly". | Prosecutors received the full evidence file from police on 10 May, and BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said that meant the CPS had made its decision "quite quickly". |
| But he said the CPS had been working alongside the police for many months and there would now be "serious questions for the police in particular about why this has taken so long". | But he said the CPS had been working alongside the police for many months and there would now be "serious questions for the police in particular about why this has taken so long". |
| He also said there would be "serious questions for the BBC in terms of its coverage". | He also said there would be "serious questions for the BBC in terms of its coverage". |
| Commenting on the claims against Sir Cliff, our correspondent says this "isn't necessarily the end of the matter", as the CPS maintains it must "keep every case under review" and every complainant has the right to a review of a decision not to bring charges. | Commenting on the claims against Sir Cliff, our correspondent says this "isn't necessarily the end of the matter", as the CPS maintains it must "keep every case under review" and every complainant has the right to a review of a decision not to bring charges. |
| Conservative MP David Davis said Sir Cliff's case was "another high-profile arrest which resulted in no prosecution". | Conservative MP David Davis said Sir Cliff's case was "another high-profile arrest which resulted in no prosecution". |
| "It is time for a complete review of police procedures surrounding high-profile sex abuse cases, and the publicity surrounding these cases," he said. | "It is time for a complete review of police procedures surrounding high-profile sex abuse cases, and the publicity surrounding these cases," he said. |
| "Whilst it is important to protect victims and maximise the chances of a successful prosecution, this must not result in the gratuitous destruction of people's reputation." | "Whilst it is important to protect victims and maximise the chances of a successful prosecution, this must not result in the gratuitous destruction of people's reputation." |
| Responding to questions about the BBC's coverage, a spokesman said: "We applied normal editorial judgements to a story that was covered widely by all media and have continued to report the investigation as it developed including the CPS's decision today - which is running prominently across our news output." | Responding to questions about the BBC's coverage, a spokesman said: "We applied normal editorial judgements to a story that was covered widely by all media and have continued to report the investigation as it developed including the CPS's decision today - which is running prominently across our news output." |