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| Cliff Richard: Lawyers and MPs criticise televised raid on singer's home, which police defend | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A police force has defended its decision to stage a media-attended raid on Sir Cliff Richard’s house, saying that it decided to work with the press “in order to protect the integrity” of the investigation. | A police force has defended its decision to stage a media-attended raid on Sir Cliff Richard’s house, saying that it decided to work with the press “in order to protect the integrity” of the investigation. |
| South Yorkshire Police said they were contacted by the BBC with information on the probe prior to searching the 73-year-old singer’s home in Sunningdale, Berkshire. | South Yorkshire Police said they were contacted by the BBC with information on the probe prior to searching the 73-year-old singer’s home in Sunningdale, Berkshire. |
| It led to hovering helicopters filming the search as detectives entered the house on Thursday, despite Sir Cliff being unaware of the developments as he was on holiday in Portugal. | It led to hovering helicopters filming the search as detectives entered the house on Thursday, despite Sir Cliff being unaware of the developments as he was on holiday in Portugal. |
| No arrests have been made. | No arrests have been made. |
| Police defended the decision to allow live footage of the search, saying that the increased attention had led to a number of new witnesses coming forward. | Police defended the decision to allow live footage of the search, saying that the increased attention had led to a number of new witnesses coming forward. |
| “Since the search took place a number of people have contacted the police to provide information and we must acknowledge that the media played a part in that, for which we are grateful,” South Yorkshire Police said, reports Sky News. | “Since the search took place a number of people have contacted the police to provide information and we must acknowledge that the media played a part in that, for which we are grateful,” South Yorkshire Police said, reports Sky News. |
| In a statement on Thursday, Sir Cliff took appeared to take aim at the force’s decision, saying: “The police attended my apartment in Berkshire today without notice, except it would appear to the press”. | In a statement on Thursday, Sir Cliff took appeared to take aim at the force’s decision, saying: “The police attended my apartment in Berkshire today without notice, except it would appear to the press”. |
| He added: “For many months I have been aware of allegations against me of historic impropriety which have been circulating online. | He added: “For many months I have been aware of allegations against me of historic impropriety which have been circulating online. |
| “The allegations are completely false. Up until now I have chosen not to dignify the false allegations with a response, as it would just give them more oxygen.” | “The allegations are completely false. Up until now I have chosen not to dignify the false allegations with a response, as it would just give them more oxygen.” |
| He also said that he will “fully cooperate” with the police. | He also said that he will “fully cooperate” with the police. |
| The televised raid was also criticised by Conservative MP and Former Deputy Commons Speaker Nigel Evans, who told ITV: “It appears the press knew what was happening before he did and the world’s media were camped outside his doorstep. | The televised raid was also criticised by Conservative MP and Former Deputy Commons Speaker Nigel Evans, who told ITV: “It appears the press knew what was happening before he did and the world’s media were camped outside his doorstep. |
| “A press helicopter was up before the police even arrived — he is quite right to be angry about that. Questions have got to be answered.” | “A press helicopter was up before the police even arrived — he is quite right to be angry about that. Questions have got to be answered.” |
| A convoy of cars leave Sir Cliff's home on Thursday Writing in The Independent, Geoffrey Robertson QC, a human rights barrister, said that Sir Cliff’s treatment had been unacceptable and that it had raised a number of questions surrounding civil liberties. | A convoy of cars leave Sir Cliff's home on Thursday Writing in The Independent, Geoffrey Robertson QC, a human rights barrister, said that Sir Cliff’s treatment had been unacceptable and that it had raised a number of questions surrounding civil liberties. |
| The police, “aided and abetted by the BBC and a Sheffield lay justice”, he said, had denied Sir Cliff his “most basic right to refute the allegation”. | The police, “aided and abetted by the BBC and a Sheffield lay justice”, he said, had denied Sir Cliff his “most basic right to refute the allegation”. |
| He added that the behaviour of the police breached article eight of the European Convention of Human Rights – the right to privacy. | He added that the behaviour of the police breached article eight of the European Convention of Human Rights – the right to privacy. |
| The allegations against Sir Cliff relate to a historic claim of sexual assault in Sheffield in 1985, involving a boy who was under 16 at the time. | The allegations against Sir Cliff relate to a historic claim of sexual assault in Sheffield in 1985, involving a boy who was under 16 at the time. |
| Sir Cliff vehemently denies the allegations. | Sir Cliff vehemently denies the allegations. |