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Cyril Smith police inquiry closes due to lack of evidence | Cyril Smith police inquiry closes due to lack of evidence |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A police investigation into claims that former Liberal MP Sir Cyril Smith was released by officers after being found in possession of child abuse images has closed due to a lack of evidence. | A police investigation into claims that former Liberal MP Sir Cyril Smith was released by officers after being found in possession of child abuse images has closed due to a lack of evidence. |
Simon Danczuk, the current Rochdale MP, made a series of claims about the late Smith’s sexual activities, including that Smith was stopped by police who discovered he had child abuse images while travelling on the motorway through Northamptonshire. | |
But Northamptonshire police said they could find no records or witnesses to corroborate the allegations, made by the Labour MP in his book Smile for the Camera: The Double Life of Cyril Smith. | But Northamptonshire police said they could find no records or witnesses to corroborate the allegations, made by the Labour MP in his book Smile for the Camera: The Double Life of Cyril Smith. |
Detectives interviewed five people who came forward but could only provide third-party accounts which could not be used in evidence. Danczuk, two former chief constables and 60 police staff were also interviewed. | Detectives interviewed five people who came forward but could only provide third-party accounts which could not be used in evidence. Danczuk, two former chief constables and 60 police staff were also interviewed. |
Northamptonshire police said Special Branch “had undertaken a manual trawl of their archives” and the Crown Prosecution Service had also searched its archives for relevant information but had found nothing. | Northamptonshire police said Special Branch “had undertaken a manual trawl of their archives” and the Crown Prosecution Service had also searched its archives for relevant information but had found nothing. |
“To date, no witness has been found who saw Smith in custody or was involved in his arrest and no reports of the alleged incident have been uncovered,” a statement from the force said. | “To date, no witness has been found who saw Smith in custody or was involved in his arrest and no reports of the alleged incident have been uncovered,” a statement from the force said. |
“Furthermore, no witnesses have been found from Special Branch or any other senior influence, while a primary witness – a canteen worker mentioned in the book – cannot be identified.” | “Furthermore, no witnesses have been found from Special Branch or any other senior influence, while a primary witness – a canteen worker mentioned in the book – cannot be identified.” |
Smith, who died in 2010, was the subject of allegations and investigations over decades during his career, first as a prominent local councillor in Rochdale and later as the town’s Liberal MP. He was never prosecuted. | Smith, who died in 2010, was the subject of allegations and investigations over decades during his career, first as a prominent local councillor in Rochdale and later as the town’s Liberal MP. He was never prosecuted. |
The force added the cold case investigation could be reopened if further information came to light. | The force added the cold case investigation could be reopened if further information came to light. |
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