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Sir Cliff Richard starts legal action against BBC and South Yorkshire police Sir Cliff Richard starts legal action against BBC and South Yorkshire police
(about 2 hours later)
Sir Cliff Richard has launched legal action against the BBC and South Yorkshire police after being investigated over sex assault allegations. Papers have been lodged at the high court in London. They give little detail, but show that he has sued the BBC and South Yorkshire police.Sir Cliff Richard has launched legal action against the BBC and South Yorkshire police after being investigated over sex assault allegations. Papers have been lodged at the high court in London. They give little detail, but show that he has sued the BBC and South Yorkshire police.
Richard is listed as a claimant and the BBC and chief constable of South Yorkshire police as defendants. The papers were filed on Thursday.Richard is listed as a claimant and the BBC and chief constable of South Yorkshire police as defendants. The papers were filed on Thursday.
Richard was the subject of a long-running South Yorkshire police investigation that centred on accusations dating between 1958 and 1983 made by four men. Officers investigating allegations of historical sex offences were filmed searching his apartment in Berkshire in 2014, leading to him being publicly named as the subject of the probe.Richard was the subject of a long-running South Yorkshire police investigation that centred on accusations dating between 1958 and 1983 made by four men. Officers investigating allegations of historical sex offences were filmed searching his apartment in Berkshire in 2014, leading to him being publicly named as the subject of the probe.
He was never arrested or charged and his case was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service in June on the grounds of insufficient evidence. After the investigation was brought to a close in June, Richard said he was “thrilled”.He was never arrested or charged and his case was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service in June on the grounds of insufficient evidence. After the investigation was brought to a close in June, Richard said he was “thrilled”.
He added: “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. Nevertheless, I am obviously thrilled that the vile accusations and the resulting investigation have finally been brought to a close.”He added: “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. Nevertheless, I am obviously thrilled that the vile accusations and the resulting investigation have finally been brought to a close.”
After the investigation was brought to a close in June, Richard said he was “thrilled”.
He added: “I have always maintained my innocence, co-operated fully with the investigation, and cannot understand why it has taken so long to get to this point.
“Nevertheless, I am obviously thrilled that the vile accusations and the resulting investigation have finally been brought to a close.”
A spokesman for Richard said on Thursday: “We can confirm that Sir Cliff today issued legal proceedings at the high court against both South Yorkshire police and the BBC. It would not be appropriate to comment further.”
A BBC spokesman said: “While we haven’t received any notification of action, we’ve said previously we are very sorry that Sir Cliff has suffered distress but we have a duty to report on matters of public interest and we stand by our journalism.”