Should the police have investigated Ted Heath?

THE Chief Constable of Wiltshire should hang his head in shame for his statements on the results of the inquiry into allegations against the late former PM Sir Edward Heath. It was tantamount to accusing someone of a crime without any evidence when there is no chance the accused is able to defend themselves. Has he not heard of innocent until proven guilty? M. OLIVER, Chelmsford, Essex. WILTSHIRE Police has recorded 26 of the allegations against Sir Edward Heath as ‘crimes’. Will they later be quietly filed away as ‘detections’, which all forces are measured on? In my 12-year tenure with the police, the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) was introduced to bring consistency to the way crimes, real and imagined, were recorded. It kicked common sense into the long grass and opened the door to lazy policing. An accuser should be asked to sign a disclaimer that, whatever the outcome of the investigation, they agree to waive any claim for compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). I would not be surprised to see many accusers fade away. This would allow the police to deal with present-day crime. Now, all it takes is for someone to say something happened — and the police will agree until proven otherwise. JOHN MANSFORD, Basildon, Essex. WHO agreed to waste £1.5 million in investigating accusations about Mr Heath? This could have been used in fighting crime, not on someone who is not here to defend himself. G. R. SPINKS, Ely, Cambs. WILL anyone whose accusations against Sir Edward Heath can be proved to be false be prosecuted? ST JOHN COX, Taunton, Somerset.