Appeal at Heath’s home a mistake, says police chief
THE police chief leading the investigation into Sir Edward Heath has privately admitted it was a mistake to launch the inquiry outside the late former prime minister’s house.
Mike Veale, Wiltshire Police’s chief constable, has accepted that the appeal in 2015 for “victims” of child sex abuse should never have been staged at Sir Edward’s Salisbury home, Arundells.
Mr Veale will now come under pressure to apologise publicly for a “stunt”, which led to dozens of allegations and prompted Operation Conifer, a £1.5million, two-year police inquiry.
Critics have accused Wiltshire Police of besmirching Sir Edward’s reputation by launching a witch hunt against the former prime minister who died in 2005.
A summary report will be made public by Mr Veale on Oct 5. It is understood to stop short of concluding Sir Edward was a paedophile but will insist the investigation was justified and could have led to Sir Edward’s arrest on suspicion of abuse had he been alive.
A police source said: “Mike Veale has accepted that staging the appeal for victims outside Heath’s home was a mistake. He isn’t apologising for the appeal itself but for where it was staged. We shouldn’t have done it in front of his house.”
It is understood Mr Veale is considering whether to put an apology in the summary report or at least accept the mistake at the press conference when it is published. The appeal for victims was made by Supt Sean Memory in August 2015, two months after Mr Veale was appointed chief constable.
Mr Memory said in a televised public address: “This is an appeal for victims: in particular, if you have been the victim of any crime from Sir Ted Heath or any historical sexual offence, or you are a witness or you have any information about this, then please come forward.”
It is thought dozens of complainants came forward. Police believe that some of those claims – were Sir Edward still alive – would merit further inquiry, including interviewing him. However, The Sunday Telegraph has been told that no evidence has emerged.
Lincoln Seligman, Sir Edward’s godson, said: “That appeal invited a torrent of allegations which was bound to happen. It was a terrible way of besmirching his reputation without any evidence.
“It was irresponsible and cowardly given Sir Edward was dead and could not defend himself. The appeal was based on minimal information that turned out to be untrue.”
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