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'Errors' in Met's VIP paedophile probe Operation Midland 'Errors' in Met's VIP paedophile probe Operation Midland
(35 minutes later)
Numerous errors were made in Scotland Yard's investigation into paedophile allegations against VIPs, an independent review has found.Numerous errors were made in Scotland Yard's investigation into paedophile allegations against VIPs, an independent review has found.
The decision to abandon Operation Midland should have been taken "much earlier", Sir Richard Henriques said.The decision to abandon Operation Midland should have been taken "much earlier", Sir Richard Henriques said.
Five officers have been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission following the review. Five officers have been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) following the review.
The Met Police commissioner accepted "accountability for these failures" and apologised to those involved.The Met Police commissioner accepted "accountability for these failures" and apologised to those involved.
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "It is a matter of professional and personal dismay that the suspects in the investigation were pursued for so long when it could have been concluded much earlier.Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "It is a matter of professional and personal dismay that the suspects in the investigation were pursued for so long when it could have been concluded much earlier.
"I am today issuing a public apology to Lord Bramall, Lady Brittan and Harvey Proctor for the intrusion into their homes and the impact of Operation Midland on their lives.""I am today issuing a public apology to Lord Bramall, Lady Brittan and Harvey Proctor for the intrusion into their homes and the impact of Operation Midland on their lives."
He said the public identification of suspects had compounded the harm of the investigative failures.He said the public identification of suspects had compounded the harm of the investigative failures.
Life 'ruined'Life 'ruined'
The £2.5m investigation was launched after claims that boys had been sexually abused by public figures more than 30 years ago - but it closed in March without a single arrest.The £2.5m investigation was launched after claims that boys had been sexually abused by public figures more than 30 years ago - but it closed in March without a single arrest.
Sir Richard, a retired High Court judge, examined eight investigations.Sir Richard, a retired High Court judge, examined eight investigations.
They included:They included:
Lord Bramall, 92, is a former head of the Army who was told he would face no further action under Operation Midland.Lord Bramall, 92, is a former head of the Army who was told he would face no further action under Operation Midland.
Lady Brittan was married to former Home Secretary Lord Brittan, who died in January 2015 without being told that the case against him had been dropped.Lady Brittan was married to former Home Secretary Lord Brittan, who died in January 2015 without being told that the case against him had been dropped.
Harvey Proctor is a former MP, who was cleared of being part of an alleged VIP Westminster paedophile ring. He has said the Met Police's inquiry "irreparably ruined" his life.Harvey Proctor is a former MP, who was cleared of being part of an alleged VIP Westminster paedophile ring. He has said the Met Police's inquiry "irreparably ruined" his life.
The review found 43 failings in Operation Midland, including believing the complainant, a man known as "Nick", for too long; one officer announcing that Nick's claims were "credible and true"; and applying for search warrants with flawed information.The review found 43 failings in Operation Midland, including believing the complainant, a man known as "Nick", for too long; one officer announcing that Nick's claims were "credible and true"; and applying for search warrants with flawed information.
Sir Richard said: "The principal cause of the many failures in this investigation was poor judgement and a failure to accurately evaluate known facts and to react to them.Sir Richard said: "The principal cause of the many failures in this investigation was poor judgement and a failure to accurately evaluate known facts and to react to them.
"A major contributing factor was the culture that 'victims' must be believed.""A major contributing factor was the culture that 'victims' must be believed."
Scotland Yard said that as a result of the review another force, Northumbria, would investigate a claim that "a complainant" had attempted to pervert the course of justice.
'Unjustifiable imbalance'
Sir Richard was highly critical of the decision by those in charge of Operation Midland to search several premises, risking the names of the householders being made public.
Searching them, when there were several inconsistencies in the complainant's interviews, was a "grave error of judgement", the former judge said.
Instead, the investigation could have been carried out speedily and without those named learning of it.
There was an "unjustifiable imbalance", he said, between the scrutiny of complainants and suspects, highlighted by Operation Midland.
He wrote: "The police inspected every piece of paper and recording equipment in the homes of Lord Bramall, Lady Brittan and Mr Proctor, including letters of commiseration and Golden Wedding invitations."
Lord Bramall and Mr Proctor were accused of the gravest of crimes and then left in a state of limbo while Nick was contacted on a regular basis and given "chapter and verse" on the progress of the investigation, he added.
'Not enough evidence'
Sir Richard called for much work to be done to improve the police relationship with those accused given that prolonged investigations had a "crushing effect" on innocent suspects and their families.
On the Operation Vincente investigation into Lord Brittan, he said there was a "grave error of judgement as it was "obvious" while the peer was still alive that there was not enough evidence to charge him and he was ill.
"I am in no doubt that he should have been informed during his lifetime that no action would be taken," the former judge found.
The IPCC will look into the cases of five officers over potential breaches in professional standards linked to Operation Midland.
Deputy chair of the IPCC Rachel Cerfontyne said they ranged in rank from sergeant to deputy assistant commissioner.
She said an assessment team would review documentation and make a recommendation. From that she would decide whether there should be a full investigation and what form that should take.