Inquiry into botched VIP pedophile investigation will condemn individual police officers
A review of Scotland Yard’s investigation into an alleged VIP pedophile network will criticize individual officers involved in the probe, which failed to find any evidence to support allegations of torture, sex abuse, and murder, it has emerged.
The forthcoming inquiry, chaired by former High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques, was commissioned to look into concerns that the high-profile investigation was mishandled, damaging the reputations of a string of establishment figures with uncorroborated allegations.
Over the course of sixteen months, Operation Midland, a £2 million ($2.5 million) investigation involving more than thirty full time detectives, failed to find any evidence to substantiate claims that establishment figures tortured, sexually abused, and murdered young boys in the 1970s and 1980s.
The investigation was terminated in March with zero arrests or convictions.
The controversial probe came under fire for relying extensively on a central, anonymous witness known only as “Nick,” who claimed to have been raped and tortured by a group of prominent figures, including former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath and former head of the army Lord Bramall.
The Metropolitan Police was heavily criticized after a senior detective involved with the investigation, Kenny McDonald, described Nick’s claims as “credible and true” in November 2014 despite a lack of evidence.
The report on the investigation is set to be handed over to chief of the Metropolitan Police Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe later this week, The Times reports.
However, Hogan-Howe was informed on Sunday the publication of the report may be delayed because of Maxwellisation, a process by which individuals criticized are given a chance to respond.
The Met has indicated it plans to publish the report’s key findings and recommendations, prompting calls from those wrongly accused in Operation Midland to publish the report in full.
Former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor, accused by “Nick” of involvement in the VIP torture ring, but cleared of all allegations, has called for the immediate publication of the report in full.
“I want the report published in full on the same day Bernard Hogan-Howe receives it. I want Hogan-Howe to face a press conference on the same day, but it will not happen,” he said.
“I would like Hogan-Howe to discuss the report with relevant people, including myself, but it will not happen.”
