Abuse claims merited quiz of UK’s Heath
FORMER British prime minister Edward Heath would have been questioned about claims he sexually abused boys if he were alive today, police said yesterday after a two-year investigation.
Supporters of Heath, who never married, have said the investigation was an expensive and flawed witch-hunt.
Heath, who was prime minister from 1970 to 1974 and died 12 years ago, would have been interviewed under caution over seven allegations including raping an 11-year-old boy and indecently assaulting men and other boys, one aged 10.
The alleged incidents had occurred from 1956 to 1992 while he was a member of parliament but not prime minister, Wiltshire Police, the force in western England which headed the national investigation named Operation Conifer, said.
“I am satisfied there were compelling and obvious reasons to investigate allegations made against Sir Edward Heath,” Wiltshire chief constable Mike Veale said, adding that the report did not suggest or conclude guilt.
“The allegations against him were of the utmost seriousness and from a significant number of people. It would be an indefensible dereliction of my public duty as a chief constable not to have investigated such serious allegations against a former prime minister, even though he is deceased.”
In total, 40 individuals came forward with accusations against Heath.
Of these, evidence undermining the claims was found in 19 cases and three accusers later concluded they were mistaken in naming the ex-prime minister.
But Heath would have been quizzed over seven accusations.
Heath’s godson, artist Lincoln Seligman, said the police investigation had cast a stain on a man who could not defend himself.
“If allegations are out there, he might have been called in for questioning,” he said. “So, yes, they had to question him, but that tells us nothing.”
In a statement, Robert Armstrong, Heath’s former cabinet secretary, and David Hunt, chairman of the Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation, said there should be a judge-led review of the evidence.
“All those who knew Sir Edward Heath or worked with him are, without exception, convinced that the allegations of child abuse will all be found to be groundless,” they said.