Two-year probe to clear Heath of paedophilia an ‘idiotic waste’
THE two-year investigation into allegations that Sir Edward Heath was a paedophile was dismissed as an “idiotic waste of public money” last night as the police chief in charge came under renewed pressure to quit.
Mike Veale, the Wiltshire Police Chief Constable, announced yesterday that the £2million probe will formally close in the coming weeks.
Operation Conifer was launched in August 2015 after the late former prime minister was named as a suspect in an historic child abuse investigation. But the force has come under intense criticism for pursuing allegations against a man who has been dead for more than a decade.
In a stinging attack, James Gray, the MP for North Wiltshire, said it had been a “pretty pointless investigation” and said he had made his feelings known to Mr Veale.
In an article for his local paper, the Wiltshire Gazette, Mr Gray accused the force of wasting money and officers on a case which could never be brought to court even if the allegations were found to be credible.
He said: “He’s dead, for goodness’ sake, and the case against him seems pretty flimsy to say the least. They’ll be looking into Jack the Ripper or Henry VIII, who had a nasty habit of chopping off his wives’ heads next. What a waste of time. I have made my views known in very plain terms to the Chief Constable, and I hope that he will take steps to wrap up this idiotic waste of public money with no further delay.”
Lord Armstrong of Ilminster, who was Heath’s principal private secretary when prime minister, said he expected Mr Veale to come under intense pressure to quit when the summary findings are published.
He said: “I think Mr Veale will be subject to a great deal of criticism if this investigation proves to be a dead duck. It is for him and his crime commissioner to decide whether he goes or stays. He will be under great pressure to resign.”
Lord Armstrong, who believes his former boss’s innocence, said he was deeply concerned the summary produced by Wiltshire Police would amount to a whitewash of the police’s actions.
He said that far from being the end of the matter, a further independent review needed to take place to investigate Wiltshire Police’s action.
“I doubt this will ensure any of the things the police are promising – transparency, accountability and openness. There will be enormous pressure for a follow-up inquiry if this summary proves to be inadequate.”
Sir Edward’s godson, Lincoln Seligman, also said it was vital the police published their findings in full.
He said: “It is important that the findings of this lengthy and expensive investigation are made public in sufficient detail so people can make their own minds up. It will not be enough to publish a heavily redacted report which leaves people with more questions than answers.”