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Operation Midland report due 'by the end of the month' Operation Midland report due 'by the end of the month'
(about 3 hours later)
Scotland Yard will publish the conclusions of a report into its heavily criticised investigation of child sexual abuse allegations against VIPs within weeks, an email from the force discloses.Scotland Yard will publish the conclusions of a report into its heavily criticised investigation of child sexual abuse allegations against VIPs within weeks, an email from the force discloses.
In an indication that the report will condemn police tactics, the Met’s commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, has asked to meet one of the main suspects, who has now been cleared, before it is released.In an indication that the report will condemn police tactics, the Met’s commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, has asked to meet one of the main suspects, who has now been cleared, before it is released.
Its publication will bring to an end one of the most embarrassing and much criticised inquiries ever conducted by a UK force.Its publication will bring to an end one of the most embarrassing and much criticised inquiries ever conducted by a UK force.
The inquiry, called Operation Midland, was based on claims from a single alleged victim known as Nick. He said he witnessed a group of powerful men in the 70s and 80s abusing young boys in central London locations, such as a flat in the Dolphin Square block near Westminster.The inquiry, called Operation Midland, was based on claims from a single alleged victim known as Nick. He said he witnessed a group of powerful men in the 70s and 80s abusing young boys in central London locations, such as a flat in the Dolphin Square block near Westminster.
Nick’s allegations centred on a number of figures in the establishment at the time. These included the former MP Harvey Proctor; Leon Brittan, a former home secretary; Lord Bramall, a former head of the armed forces; Sir Edward Heath, the late prime minister; and the former heads of MI5 and MI6, all of whom were said to have been part of the savage paedophile ring that killed three boys.Nick’s allegations centred on a number of figures in the establishment at the time. These included the former MP Harvey Proctor; Leon Brittan, a former home secretary; Lord Bramall, a former head of the armed forces; Sir Edward Heath, the late prime minister; and the former heads of MI5 and MI6, all of whom were said to have been part of the savage paedophile ring that killed three boys.
An email sent on Thursday by Assistant Commissioner Helen King to Proctor says that Hogan-Howe received a draft of the report conducted by the retired judge Richard Henriques on 6 October.An email sent on Thursday by Assistant Commissioner Helen King to Proctor says that Hogan-Howe received a draft of the report conducted by the retired judge Richard Henriques on 6 October.
“Sir Richard anticipates that process will be completed fairly soon and that the report will be finalised by the end of the month at the latest,” King wrote. “Once the final report has been received, the Commissioner would welcome an opportunity to meet with you privately to discuss the report.”“Sir Richard anticipates that process will be completed fairly soon and that the report will be finalised by the end of the month at the latest,” King wrote. “Once the final report has been received, the Commissioner would welcome an opportunity to meet with you privately to discuss the report.”
Nick claimed that Proctor stabbed one boy to death, assaulted another and helped organise the death of a third boy who was subsequently run over by a car. Proctor was finally told he was no longer a suspect in March.Nick claimed that Proctor stabbed one boy to death, assaulted another and helped organise the death of a third boy who was subsequently run over by a car. Proctor was finally told he was no longer a suspect in March.
The former MP for Billericay and Basildon said that Hogan-Howe’s invitation to meet had come as a surprise. “He has until now been keen to avoid me,” he said. “I hope this report will uncover the truth.”The former MP for Billericay and Basildon said that Hogan-Howe’s invitation to meet had come as a surprise. “He has until now been keen to avoid me,” he said. “I hope this report will uncover the truth.”
It emerged earlier this month that the report will not be published in full, much to the anger of those accused.It emerged earlier this month that the report will not be published in full, much to the anger of those accused.
In an indication of the condemnation of police tactics within the report, King’s email adds that the report is still in draft “because it is necessary to allow some of those who may be subject to criticisms to respond to that provisional criticism”.In an indication of the condemnation of police tactics within the report, King’s email adds that the report is still in draft “because it is necessary to allow some of those who may be subject to criticisms to respond to that provisional criticism”.
On Thursday, Lord Bramall spoke of his anger that his wife died before child sex abuse allegations against him were dropped.
The 92-year-old D-Day veteran, whose home was raided by 22 officers in March last year while he had breakfast with Lady Bramall, told the Telegraph that he had now received an apology from Hogan-Howe.
Hogan-Howe told him that there was no case against him “very early” but could not remove him from the inquiry for fear of being accused of not properly investigating the claims against him.
“Sir Bernard has apologised for the search of the house. He said they should never have searched the house,” Bramall told the Telegraph.
“The commissioner also apologised for the inordinately and unnecessarily long time they took to the complete the investigation, and the words they used to say they were taking no further action against me,” he said.
Lord Bramall said that he did not want to see action taken against Nick, adding: “It wasn’t just Nick’s baseless and totally unbelievable claims that did the damage. It was the police taking notice of them.”
He added: “As I understand it, Sir Richard Henriques in his independent report will severely criticise the Metropolitan police, although I have not seen that report.”
It took 16 months for the Met to conclude there was no corroborative evidence to support lurid, horrific and, for some, extraordinary murder allegations from a single witness.It took 16 months for the Met to conclude there was no corroborative evidence to support lurid, horrific and, for some, extraordinary murder allegations from a single witness.
Under scrutiny will be police tactics of working with journalists from the now-defunct website Exaro, and the announcement by a senior officer that Nick’s claims of rape and murder were “credible and true”.Under scrutiny will be police tactics of working with journalists from the now-defunct website Exaro, and the announcement by a senior officer that Nick’s claims of rape and murder were “credible and true”.
An earlier review by Dorset police found the Met was right to investigate an allegation of rape against Brittan. The former home secretary died in January 2015 not knowing that police had concluded four months previously that he had no case to answer.An earlier review by Dorset police found the Met was right to investigate an allegation of rape against Brittan. The former home secretary died in January 2015 not knowing that police had concluded four months previously that he had no case to answer.
The Met has said the Henriques review would consider concerns raised by Brittan’s widow, Lady Brittan, and Bramall. Hogan-Howe has met both of them in private to express “regret about the distress felt”.The Met has said the Henriques review would consider concerns raised by Brittan’s widow, Lady Brittan, and Bramall. Hogan-Howe has met both of them in private to express “regret about the distress felt”.
Henriques examined whether a policy that “the victim should always be believed” should be dropped. Hogan-Howe claimed Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary had recommended such a move in 2014, but the HMIC’s head, Sir Tom Winsor, said Hogan-Howe had misunderstood its advice.Henriques examined whether a policy that “the victim should always be believed” should be dropped. Hogan-Howe claimed Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary had recommended such a move in 2014, but the HMIC’s head, Sir Tom Winsor, said Hogan-Howe had misunderstood its advice.
Hogan-Howe said last month his decision to retire early was not linked to the inquiry.Hogan-Howe said last month his decision to retire early was not linked to the inquiry.