Dick: I stand by investigation of ‘credible’ Beech claims

CRESSIDA Dick came under fire over her role in Operation Midland yesterday as she admitted ‘many mistakes’ were made but stood by her decision to investigate Carl Beech’s ‘credible’ claims.

The Scotland Yard Commissioner told MPs public confidence in her force had been damaged by the disastrous multimillion-pound inquiry into an alleged VIP paedophile ring based on the lies of fantasist Carl Beech, known as ‘Nick’.

During a grilling by MPs, the officer appeared unclear about her role in the scandal, claiming first that she left the force before Beech was interviewed by detectives before clarifying she was Assistant Commissioner at the time.

Dame Cressida, pictured, apologised for the botched probe.

But she defended the decision to investigate Beech’s claims, even though it turned out he was a ‘very, very capable liar’ who had the ability to ‘lie in a credible manner’, she said. Her use of the word credible echoes former Detective Superintendent Kenny McDonald in 201 when he said he and senior officers believed Nick’s allegations to be ‘credible and true’.

The Daily Mail’s role in exposing the shambolic investigation was praised at the Commons home affairs committee hearing. Tory MP Tim Loughton said: ‘Thank goodness the Mail has uncovered and revealed the full horror of this.’

He asked if Dame Cressida had presided over a cover-up.

She replied: ‘I do not believe we have lost our moral compass, I don’t believe that anything has been covered up. Operation Midland undoubtedly first of all had a huge impact on many individuals, and I regret that.

‘It harmed people’s sense of confidence in the police service generally and in particular the Met.’ She said it was ‘hard to hear’ the testimony of Lady Brittan, whose husband Lord Brittan was falsely accused of being in the ring.