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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan Police probed over child abuse 'cover-up' claims | Metropolitan Police probed over child abuse 'cover-up' claims |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The police watchdog is investigating alleged corruption in the Metropolitan Police, including claims it covered up child sex offences because of the involvement of police officers and MPs. | The police watchdog is investigating alleged corruption in the Metropolitan Police, including claims it covered up child sex offences because of the involvement of police officers and MPs. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating 14 referrals spanning four decades. | |
| It said the claims were of "high-level corruption of the most serious nature". | It said the claims were of "high-level corruption of the most serious nature". |
| The Met said it had voluntarily referred the allegations, which arose from an investigation launched in 2012. | |
| The allegations have emerged since the Metropolitan Police launched Operation Fairbank into historical child sex abuse claims involving politicians and other public figures. | |
| That investigation has found that previous inquiries into such abuse were allegedly hindered or halted, or that evidence was suppressed. | |
| 'Grave concern' | 'Grave concern' |
| Sarah Green, the commission's deputy chairwoman, said: "Allegations of this nature are of grave concern and I would like to reassure people of our absolute commitment to ensuring that the investigations are thorough and robust." | Sarah Green, the commission's deputy chairwoman, said: "Allegations of this nature are of grave concern and I would like to reassure people of our absolute commitment to ensuring that the investigations are thorough and robust." |
| Allegations being investigated as set out by the IPCC include: | Allegations being investigated as set out by the IPCC include: |
| The IPCC will manage an investigation that was already being conducted by the Met Police's Directorate of Professional Standards into the alleged police corruption. | The IPCC will manage an investigation that was already being conducted by the Met Police's Directorate of Professional Standards into the alleged police corruption. |
| The force said in a statement: "The allegations emerged whilst officers were working on Operation Fairbank and relate to the period between 1970 and 2005. | The force said in a statement: "The allegations emerged whilst officers were working on Operation Fairbank and relate to the period between 1970 and 2005. |
| "The MPS [Metropolitan Police] recognised the severity of the allegations, and the importance of understanding whether or not our officers had in the past acted inappropriately, and therefore voluntarily referred the 16 separate allegations to the IPCC. | "The MPS [Metropolitan Police] recognised the severity of the allegations, and the importance of understanding whether or not our officers had in the past acted inappropriately, and therefore voluntarily referred the 16 separate allegations to the IPCC. |
| "Ongoing investigations and recent convictions by officers from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command have shown that the MPS is fully committed to investigating non-recent allegations of sexual abuse." | "Ongoing investigations and recent convictions by officers from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command have shown that the MPS is fully committed to investigating non-recent allegations of sexual abuse." |
| 'Terrible evil' | |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the fact that the IPCC was managing the investigation, rather than running its own independent inquiry, could "puzzle people" and might "prove to be a bone of contention in the future". | |
| He said a "substantial" amount of resources would be needed and that it was "clear that the Independent Police Complaints Commission and the Met both want to get to the bottom of these allegations". | |
| Former Metropolitan Police officer Mike Pannett told BBC Radio 5 live: "If there is anybody still serving, and of course that'll only come out in the investigation, I can't reiterate enough that for the public themselves to have absolute confidence - and thankfully they still do - in our police we've got to get to the root of what is a terrible evil within our society." | |
| The original allegations of child abuse are also still being investigated by the Met. | The original allegations of child abuse are also still being investigated by the Met. |
| Have you been affected by the issues in this story? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | |
| Please leave a contact number if you are willing to speak with a BBC journalist. | |
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