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Harvey Proctor considering legal action against Met police Harvey Proctor considering legal action against Met police
(35 minutes later)
Harvey Proctor, the former MP who lost his job and home during a 16-month Metropolitan police inquiry into an alleged VIP paedophile ring, is considering taking legal proceedings against the force.Harvey Proctor, the former MP who lost his job and home during a 16-month Metropolitan police inquiry into an alleged VIP paedophile ring, is considering taking legal proceedings against the force.
The announcement follows a meeting between the former Conservative MP for Basildon and the Met police chief, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, at Scotland Yard to discuss the aftermath of Operation Midland.The announcement follows a meeting between the former Conservative MP for Basildon and the Met police chief, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, at Scotland Yard to discuss the aftermath of Operation Midland.
It comes a week after a damaging report by Sir Richard Henriques found 42 serious failings in the force’s handling of sex crime allegations against high-profile suspects including Lord Brittan, who has since died, and the war hero Lord Bramall.It comes a week after a damaging report by Sir Richard Henriques found 42 serious failings in the force’s handling of sex crime allegations against high-profile suspects including Lord Brittan, who has since died, and the war hero Lord Bramall.
The retired high court judge found that the Operation Midland inquiry could have taken place “speedily” without the suspects learning of the claims. The original complainant, Nick, is being investigated for perverting the course of justice.The retired high court judge found that the Operation Midland inquiry could have taken place “speedily” without the suspects learning of the claims. The original complainant, Nick, is being investigated for perverting the course of justice.
Proctor lived and worked in a farmhouse in the castle grounds of Belvoir Castle with his partner, Terry Woods, as the Duke of Rutland’s private secretary, when his home was raided by dozens of officers in March 2015.Proctor lived and worked in a farmhouse in the castle grounds of Belvoir Castle with his partner, Terry Woods, as the Duke of Rutland’s private secretary, when his home was raided by dozens of officers in March 2015.
News of the raid was leaked within minutes to the now defunct website Exaro and media organisations were briefed that Proctor was accused of a brutal and prolonged murder and rape of two boys.News of the raid was leaked within minutes to the now defunct website Exaro and media organisations were briefed that Proctor was accused of a brutal and prolonged murder and rape of two boys.
Proctor has said pressure upon his employers by police and social services meant that he had to resign and leave his home, leaving him homeless and penniless. Proctor has said pressure upon his employers by police and social services meant that he had to resign and leave his home, leaving him homeless and penniless. The Met has since said that Proctor was innocent of all claims.
The Met has since said that Proctor was innocent of all claims.
Proctor, 69, met Hogan-Howe at 2.30pm, a hastily arranged meeting after the Met released the Henriques report on the day of the US election.Proctor, 69, met Hogan-Howe at 2.30pm, a hastily arranged meeting after the Met released the Henriques report on the day of the US election.
At a press conference at a hotel opposite the Yard, Proctor said: “In the light of the Henriques report and its findings, the letter of apology which I received from Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe last Tuesday, and the intolerable strain and stress I, my family and friends have borne this last 18 months, I have asked my solicitors to look towards taking proceedings against the Metropolitan Police Service and I will comment further shortly.”At a press conference at a hotel opposite the Yard, Proctor said: “In the light of the Henriques report and its findings, the letter of apology which I received from Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe last Tuesday, and the intolerable strain and stress I, my family and friends have borne this last 18 months, I have asked my solicitors to look towards taking proceedings against the Metropolitan Police Service and I will comment further shortly.”
He added that he was also considering taking action against against two other unnamed parties involved in the criminal inquiry.He added that he was also considering taking action against against two other unnamed parties involved in the criminal inquiry.
Proctor said Hogan-Howe admitted at the meeting that a decision in 2014 by Det Supt Kenny McDonald, who was overseeing the inquiry, to describe Nick’s allegations as “credible and true” was premeditated – an apparent contradiction of Hogan-Howe’s previous claims in interviews with Radio 4 and LBC that the officer “misspoke”. Proctor said Hogan-Howe admitted at the meeting that a decision in 2014 by DS Kenny McDonald, who was overseeing the inquiry, to describe Nick’s allegations as “credible and true” was premeditated – an apparent contradiction of Hogan-Howe’s previous claims in interviews with Radio 4 and LBC that the officer “misspoke”.
The statement was seen as highly damaging to the reputation of the Met and those under investigation because it pre-empted the conclusion of the inquiry.The statement was seen as highly damaging to the reputation of the Met and those under investigation because it pre-empted the conclusion of the inquiry.
“I quoted roughly what Hogan-Howe had said – that it had been a throwaway line. He admitted that it was not, and that he understood it was a more drafted and pre-arranged remark,” Proctor said.“I quoted roughly what Hogan-Howe had said – that it had been a throwaway line. He admitted that it was not, and that he understood it was a more drafted and pre-arranged remark,” Proctor said.
Proctor also pressed Hogan-Howe on why he had decided not to resign following the Henriques report but would instead retire in February, leaving other more junior officers to take the blame.Proctor also pressed Hogan-Howe on why he had decided not to resign following the Henriques report but would instead retire in February, leaving other more junior officers to take the blame.
“Hogan-Howe replied that he thought the Met, in general, had done a good job and that there were many other important investigations which he regarded to be as important as Operation Midland which had proceeded well. “Hogan-Howe replied that he thought the Met, in general, had done a good job and that there were many other important investigations which he regarded to be as important as Operation Midland which had proceeded well. He did not come to my conclusion that he should have gone,” Proctor said.
“He did not come to my conclusion that he should have gone,” Proctor said.
Established in November 2014, Operation Midland was set up to examine claims of a Westminster VIP paedophile ring, with allegations boys were abused and murdered by a group of powerful men from politics, the military and law enforcement agencies.Established in November 2014, Operation Midland was set up to examine claims of a Westminster VIP paedophile ring, with allegations boys were abused and murdered by a group of powerful men from politics, the military and law enforcement agencies.
The inquiry related to locations across southern England and London in the 1970s and 1980s, and focused on the private Dolphin Square estate in Pimlico, south-west London.The inquiry related to locations across southern England and London in the 1970s and 1980s, and focused on the private Dolphin Square estate in Pimlico, south-west London.
A spokesperson for the Met declined to comment on any of Proctor’s statements. “The commissioner did meet Harvey Proctor and delivered in person the apology that he outlined last week. We are not going to comment further on a private meeting,” she said. A spokeswoman for the Met declined to comment on any of Proctor’s statements. “The commissioner did meet Harvey Proctor and delivered in person the apology that he outlined last week. We are not going to comment further on a private meeting,” she said.