This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/nov/09/operation-midland-lords-debate-alleged-vip-paedophile-ring
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Operation Midland: peers demand release of unredacted report Operation Midland: peers demand release of unredacted report | |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| A judge-led inquiry which has severely criticised the police investigation into an alleged VIP paedophile ring should be released in full, peers have said. | A judge-led inquiry which has severely criticised the police investigation into an alleged VIP paedophile ring should be released in full, peers have said. |
| A summary of the report by Richard Henriques into Operation Midland, which was redacted by senior Metropolitan police officers, was released on Tuesday. It found the inquiry was launched on the basis of a single witness and made 43 separate errors. | A summary of the report by Richard Henriques into Operation Midland, which was redacted by senior Metropolitan police officers, was released on Tuesday. It found the inquiry was launched on the basis of a single witness and made 43 separate errors. |
| Officers from the Met misled a senior judge to obtain search warrants and seemed to set aside the presumption of innocence to traduce the reputations of former MPs and war heroes, the report found. But only a fraction of the original 493-page report by Henriques was released to the public – and that was redacted after being examined by officers and their legal representatives. | Officers from the Met misled a senior judge to obtain search warrants and seemed to set aside the presumption of innocence to traduce the reputations of former MPs and war heroes, the report found. But only a fraction of the original 493-page report by Henriques was released to the public – and that was redacted after being examined by officers and their legal representatives. |
| In an emergency debate in the House of Lords, the retired judge Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, an independent crossbench peer, said: “It is so patently unsatisfactory that the full report is not produced for the public to read. Could I ask the minister whether in fact the Home Office should be urging the commissioner of police to make this report public?” | In an emergency debate in the House of Lords, the retired judge Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, an independent crossbench peer, said: “It is so patently unsatisfactory that the full report is not produced for the public to read. Could I ask the minister whether in fact the Home Office should be urging the commissioner of police to make this report public?” |
| Following the release of the key findings, the Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, said he “fully recognised” D-day veteran and former army chief, Edwin Bramall, former Tory MP Harvey Proctor and the late former home secretary Leon Brittan were all “innocent of the offences of which they were accused”. | Following the release of the key findings, the Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, said he “fully recognised” D-day veteran and former army chief, Edwin Bramall, former Tory MP Harvey Proctor and the late former home secretary Leon Brittan were all “innocent of the offences of which they were accused”. |
| Former Conservative MP Patrick Cormack said Lord Bramall and Lord Brittan had been “traduced in a most vile and improper way”. He said the reputation of the late prime minister Edward Heath had been “trashed” by accusations while Proctor’s life has been ruined. Cormack demanded a debate and for copies of the inquiry’s report to be made available. | Former Conservative MP Patrick Cormack said Lord Bramall and Lord Brittan had been “traduced in a most vile and improper way”. He said the reputation of the late prime minister Edward Heath had been “trashed” by accusations while Proctor’s life has been ruined. Cormack demanded a debate and for copies of the inquiry’s report to be made available. |
| Liberal Democrat peer Susan Miller pressed the government over Henriques’s recommendation that those accused should remain anonymous until police brought charges. “An initial reading of the report suggests that the operation fell short on a number of issues of natural justice,” she said. | Liberal Democrat peer Susan Miller pressed the government over Henriques’s recommendation that those accused should remain anonymous until police brought charges. “An initial reading of the report suggests that the operation fell short on a number of issues of natural justice,” she said. |
| “The one I would like to ask the minister about, though, is whether she believes and whether she will make sure her department issues guidance that people under investigation should remain anonymous until police are in a position to actually bring charges,” Lady Miller said. | “The one I would like to ask the minister about, though, is whether she believes and whether she will make sure her department issues guidance that people under investigation should remain anonymous until police are in a position to actually bring charges,” Lady Miller said. |
| In reply, home officer minister Susan Williams said there were circumstances in which names might be released in order for victims to come forward. “Victims’ groups support that principle,” she said. | In reply, home officer minister Susan Williams said there were circumstances in which names might be released in order for victims to come forward. “Victims’ groups support that principle,” she said. |
| The House of Commons home affairs select committee is expected to examine the report’s findings. David Winnick, the Labour committee member, said there appeared to have been a failure to test the claims of the accuser known as “Nick” before launching a £2m investigation. | The House of Commons home affairs select committee is expected to examine the report’s findings. David Winnick, the Labour committee member, said there appeared to have been a failure to test the claims of the accuser known as “Nick” before launching a £2m investigation. |
| “It is a question of the police using common sense in deciding with what seriousness they should pursue the complaints, bearing in mind evidence or lack of evidence, as well as credibility of those making the allegations,” he said. | “It is a question of the police using common sense in deciding with what seriousness they should pursue the complaints, bearing in mind evidence or lack of evidence, as well as credibility of those making the allegations,” he said. |