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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.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 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.The allegations have emerged since the Metropolitan Police launched Operation Fairbank into historical child sex abuse claims involving politicians and other public figures.
'Managed' investigation
That investigation has found allegations that previous inquiries into such abuse were hindered or halted, or that evidence was suppressed.That investigation has found allegations that previous inquiries into such abuse were hindered or halted, or that evidence was suppressed.
'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."
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 corruption. It says it is still considering whether to take responsibility for investigating two of the 16 allegations referred to it by the Met.
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 Service] 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 Service] 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''Terrible evil'
Labour MP for Rochdale Simon Danczuk told BBC Radio 4's World at One the investigation was a "significant development".Labour MP for Rochdale Simon Danczuk told BBC Radio 4's World at One the investigation was a "significant development".
Mr Danczuk, who had been calling for such an inquiry, said: "We are on the cusp of finding out exactly what went on in the 70s and 1980s and, I'm sorry to say, I think it will be shown that senior politicians were involved in abuse and there was a cover up. I think that's inevitable now."Mr Danczuk, who had been calling for such an inquiry, said: "We are on the cusp of finding out exactly what went on in the 70s and 1980s and, I'm sorry to say, I think it will be shown that senior politicians were involved in abuse and there was a cover up. I think that's inevitable now."
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the fact that the IPCC was managing the investigation - that is, overseeing inquiries by police officers rather than running its own independent inquiry - could "puzzle people" and might "prove to be a bone of contention in the future".BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the fact that the IPCC was managing the investigation - that is, overseeing inquiries by police officers 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".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".
Peter Saunders, chief executive of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) said: "I think potentially the scandal and the uncovering that we hope will follow will actually make the Profumo affair of the 60s look like a picnic in the park.
"I think we're looking at something that is going to be absolutely massive in terms of the revelations that will follow the allegations, if investigated properly."
He said people calling the Napac helpline had made allegations about "high-profile" people, including politicians, for years and that he had wondered "if the truth was ever going to come out".
Peter Garsden, president of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers, said those who had suffered abuse themselves would want the inquiry to be conducted transparently.Peter Garsden, president of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers, said those who had suffered abuse themselves would want the inquiry to be conducted transparently.
He told the BBC: "They will believe that even this investigation, I suspect, will be yet another cover-up.He told the BBC: "They will believe that even this investigation, I suspect, will be yet another cover-up.
"So it's very difficult to persuade them that everything is being done. They will be triggered into further suffering and memories of the abuse that happened to them many years ago - so it's a deeply troubling experience for the entire survivor group of people.""So it's very difficult to persuade them that everything is being done. They will be triggered into further suffering and memories of the abuse that happened to them many years ago - so it's a deeply troubling experience for the entire survivor group of people."
Brian Paddick, former deputy assistant commissioner at the Met, said he believed it may now be easier for victims to come forward. The other allegations that form part of the IPCC investigation are:
He said: "Hopefully now, knowing that the prominent politicians are no longer prominent politicians or that the senior police officers are no longer in the police service, hopefully victims who have been reluctant in the past will now come forward."
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.
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