Ex-PCC investigated over Janner actions

SIR Clive Loader was investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission over an allegation that he released information to the media about the initial decision not to prosecute Greville Janner.

The former Conservative Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner was reported to the IPCC by his own police and crime panel in April last year - shortly before he stood down from the position.

Details of the allegation have not been made public before but the IPCC confirmed the investigation had taken place after our sister paper the Leicester Mercury was tipped off about it.

An allegation was that the Conservative politician released details of the decision, in April 2016, by the CPS not to prosecute the former Leicester West MP to the media before the CPS publicly announced it.

The Mercury understands the IPCC investigation concluded before Christmas and found ‘no indication Sir Clive had committed a criminal offence.’

An IPCC spokesman said: “The IPCC has completed an investigation into an allegation relating to an unauthorised disclosure to the media involving the former Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner, Sir Clive Loader.

“The allegation concerns the disclosure of information about the original Crown Prosecution Service decision in April 2015 not to prosecute the late Greville Janner.

“The IPCC’s investigator concluded that there was no indication that Sir Clive had committed a criminal offence.

“The investigation followed a referral from the Leicestershire Police and Crime Panel in April 2016.”

The IPCC is likely to publish a report into its investigation in due course but it may be redacted.

When contacted Sir Clive told the Mercury he did not wish to comment on the matter.

Chairman of the Leicestershire police and crime panel, Councillor Joe Orson, said: “The panel received a complaint about the then police and crime com- missioner and, after seeking appropriate advice, I agreed that this should be referred to the IPCC for investigation.

“I note the IPCC’s ruling on this matter.”

He declined to comment further.

The police and crime panel and the IPCC have declined to say who initially reported Sir Clive but that detail could be released when the report is published.

Sir Clive was vociferous in his condemnation of former director of public prosecutions Alison Saunders’ decision not to prosecute the Labour peer over allegations of child abuse.

He said detectives had built an overwhelming case against Lord Janner and the decision not to put him on trial was “perverse”.

Lord Janner was suffering with Alzheimer’s Disease and the CPS decided he was too ill to face a trial on allegations of 22 sexual offences against nine boys and men between 1963 and 1988.

A jury was later asked to decide whether the alleged incidents had taken place without returning a verdict on the peer’s guilt or innocence.

That process ended when Lord Janner died aged 87 just before Christmas 2015.

Victims had called on the court to continue the finding of fact hearing, due to take place in April 2016.

However a judge ruled proceedings could not continue, even in the case of a finding of fact, against a defendant who was deceased.

Evidence alleging abuse by Lord Janner had been submitted to the the public inquiry into child abuse.

Alleged victims have claimed they were groomed in Leicester and London.

Lord Janner’s family has always insisted he was innocent of any wrong-doing.