Police chief expected ‘repercussions’ of raid
The former chief constable of South Yorkshire Police said he knew immediately there would be “repercussions” after he saw BBC coverage of the force’s search at Sir Cliff Richard’s home.
David Crompton told Mr Justice Mann he saw the broadcast while on the beach during a family holiday in Wales, and was “not expecting” to see footage filmed from a helicopter.
Giving evidence at the High Court yesterday, he said: “Having looked at the footage, I immediately formed the view there would be repercussions.
“I was expecting to see officers going in from the street, I wasn’t expecting to see a helicopter, and I felt that would change the perspective of peo- ple viewing this and attract criticism - and we would be part of that.”
Sir Cliff is claiming “substantial” damages for what he says was a “very serious invasion” of his privacy when the raid on his home was broadcast in 2014. The coverage included footage taken from a helicopter above his home.