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MPs to quiz BBC and police bosses over Cliff Richard raid MPs to quiz BBC and police bosses over Cliff Richard raid
(35 minutes later)
The bosses of the BBC and South Yorkshire Police have been summoned to appear before MPs after a claim of a "cover-up" over a recent police raid on Sir Cliff Richard's Berkshire home. The bosses of the BBC and South Yorkshire Police have been summoned before MPs in connection with a recent raid on Sir Cliff Richard's home.
Home affairs select committee chairman Keith Vaz said the chief constable had accused the BBC of a cover-up "which is a matter of deep concern". Home affairs select committee chairman Keith Vaz has asked them to explain how the BBC knew of the search in advance.
BBC director general Tony Hall has said BBC journalists "acted appropriately". BBC director general Tony Hall has said BBC journalists "acted appropriately" in their coverage of the police raid.
The search related to an alleged sex offence, which Sir Cliff denies. Chief Constable David Crompton has accused the BBC of a "cover-up" afterwards over what it had known.
Mr Vaz said the accusation was "a matter of deep concern".
The search of Sir Cliff's home related to an alleged historical sex offence in Yorkshire, which the singer denies.
BBC cameras and a reporter were outside the gates to Sir Cliff's property in Sunningdale when eight police officers arrived.BBC cameras and a reporter were outside the gates to Sir Cliff's property in Sunningdale when eight police officers arrived.
The BBC has received hundreds of complaints related to its reporting.The BBC has received hundreds of complaints related to its reporting.
South Yorkshire Police has said it was contacted some weeks ago by a BBC reporter "who made it clear he knew of the existence of an investigation" and "it was agreed that the reporter would be notified of the date of the house search in return for delaying publication of any of the facts".
In the days following the raid, the force complained to Lord Hall and said the BBC appeared to have broken its own editorial guidelines.
'Sensitive issue''Sensitive issue'
Mr Vaz had written to the BBC and South Yorkshire Police asking them to explain how the BBC knew of the search in advance and what agreement was struck between their organisations. Mr Vaz had written to the BBC and South Yorkshire Police asking them to explain what agreement was struck between their organisations.
After receiving letters from both sides, Mr Vaz said: "These are serious matters which deal with the sensitive issue of how the police conduct their investigations. On Friday, after receiving letters from both sides, Mr Vaz said: "These are serious matters which deal with the sensitive issue of how the police conduct their investigations.
"The balance between mass and individual public interest must be struck appropriately and the relationships between the police and the media must always be ethical.""The balance between mass and individual public interest must be struck appropriately and the relationships between the police and the media must always be ethical."
He said Lord Hall and South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable David Crompton had been asked to appear before his committee on 2 September. Mr Vaz said the information provided to him in the letters "raises even more questions".
"In his letter the chief constable accuses the BBC of a 'cover-up' which is a matter of deep concern," Mr Vaz said.
He said Lord Hall and Mr Crompton had been asked to appear before his committee on 2 September.
"I have also written to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to ask him what investigation he is proposing to initiate about how this information was leaked prior to the investigation arriving in South Yorkshire," Mr Vaz said.