Police watchdog ‘not up to the job’ of VIP child abuse probe
THE police watchdog was today locked in a war of words with a former judge and top barrister as it announced it had found no evidence of misconduct by Met officers during the VIP sex abuse inquiry.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct said that it had “identified shortcomings and failings” in the £2.5 million investigation into a fantasist’s claims that former home secretary Lord Brittan, former Armed Forces chief Lord Bramall, ex-MP Harvey Proctor and others had engaged in child murder, orgies and torture.
But despite examining more than 1,800 documents, taking 300 statements and gaining accounts from witnesses and three officers under investigation, it was not able to substantiate any claims of illegality or misconduct.
Instead, it recommended 16 changes — including an end to the secrecy with which search warrants are obtained — to prevent future probes going awry.
Its conclusions were denounced, however, by the former high court judge Sir Richard Henriques and senior barrister Geoffrey Robertson QC. Mr Robertson, who represents Mr Proctor, said the watchdog was “not up to the job” and was using “weasel words” to “cover up an abuse of power” by Met officers. Mr Robertson added: “The watchdog failed because it did not conduct a proper inquiry. It’s not up to the task.”
Sir Richard, who conducted a separate review of the investigation, known as Operation Midland, said it was “flawed” and that “no effective interrogations” of the Met officers responsible for pursuing the claims made by Carl Beech — who was jailed this summer for 18 years for perjury and other offences — had taken place. Michael Lockwood, director general of the IOPC, rejected claims that his organisation had let off the officers responsible.
The most senior officer involved in the inquiry was former Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Rodhouse, who is now at the National Crime Agency despite calls for him and other former Met officer, Detective Superintendent Kenny McDonald — who has since retired — to face prosecution for misleading a magistrate when they obtained warrants to search the homes of Lord Brittan, Lord Bramall and Mr Proctor.