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| Police watchdog to investigate three Operation Midland detectives | Police watchdog to investigate three Operation Midland detectives |
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| Three detectives who worked on Scotland Yard’s controversial Operation Midland inquiry into the alleged abuse and murder of children by VIPs are to be investigated by the police watchdog for allegedly misleading a judge to secure search warrants. | Three detectives who worked on Scotland Yard’s controversial Operation Midland inquiry into the alleged abuse and murder of children by VIPs are to be investigated by the police watchdog for allegedly misleading a judge to secure search warrants. |
| However, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has scaled back all other lines of inquiry, including those into claims that police officers mishandled the evidence of “Nick”, the sole complainant at the heart of the allegations. | However, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has scaled back all other lines of inquiry, including those into claims that police officers mishandled the evidence of “Nick”, the sole complainant at the heart of the allegations. |
| Harvey Proctor, the former MP who was one of those investigated by Operation Midland, reacted “with disbelief” to the news in a statement on Wednesday. He accused the IPCC and the Met of “media manipulation” by releasing the news as the budget took place. | Harvey Proctor, the former MP who was one of those investigated by Operation Midland, reacted “with disbelief” to the news in a statement on Wednesday. He accused the IPCC and the Met of “media manipulation” by releasing the news as the budget took place. |
| “How many errors do the MPS need to make before the IPCC will take action?” he said. “It is my view that no police officer will ever be held responsible for the bungled and disastrous Operation Midland that has ruined my life and left me destitute.” | “How many errors do the MPS need to make before the IPCC will take action?” he said. “It is my view that no police officer will ever be held responsible for the bungled and disastrous Operation Midland that has ruined my life and left me destitute.” |
| Operation Midland was shut down a year ago without charges being brought against any of the former politicians, military officers or government officials about whom Nick had made allegations after a £2m, 16-month inquiry. | Operation Midland was shut down a year ago without charges being brought against any of the former politicians, military officers or government officials about whom Nick had made allegations after a £2m, 16-month inquiry. |
| Nick’s claims centred on a number of figures in the establishment at the time. As well as Proctor, they included Leon Brittan, the late former home secretary, and Lord Bramall, a former head of the armed forces. All three were wrongfully accused of being part of a paedophile ring that killed three boys. Their homes were also searched by investigating officers. | Nick’s claims centred on a number of figures in the establishment at the time. As well as Proctor, they included Leon Brittan, the late former home secretary, and Lord Bramall, a former head of the armed forces. All three were wrongfully accused of being part of a paedophile ring that killed three boys. Their homes were also searched by investigating officers. |
| A damning report from retired judge Sir Richard Henriques found that senior detectives fell for Nick’s “false allegations” and misled a judge to get warrants to search the homes of innocent members of the establishment. | A damning report from retired judge Sir Richard Henriques found that senior detectives fell for Nick’s “false allegations” and misled a judge to get warrants to search the homes of innocent members of the establishment. |
| IPCC commissioner Carl Gumsley said it was important to acknowledge the climate in which Operation Midland was undertaken. | IPCC commissioner Carl Gumsley said it was important to acknowledge the climate in which Operation Midland was undertaken. |
| “At this time there was much concern that cover-ups by the ‘establishment’ had taken place and there was widespread intense scrutiny on both investigations,” he said. “The way both investigations were conducted should be considered in that context and in line with policies which existed at that time.” | “At this time there was much concern that cover-ups by the ‘establishment’ had taken place and there was widespread intense scrutiny on both investigations,” he said. “The way both investigations were conducted should be considered in that context and in line with policies which existed at that time.” |
| Proctor was critical of that reasoning, saying: “The IPCC expect me to accept that my reputation and life and that of others is destroyed because of the ‘climate in which Operation Midland (was) undertaken’. I cannot.” | Proctor was critical of that reasoning, saying: “The IPCC expect me to accept that my reputation and life and that of others is destroyed because of the ‘climate in which Operation Midland (was) undertaken’. I cannot.” |
| Following an assessment of the evidence relating to the conduct of five Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers linked to Operation Midland, the IPCC said there was an “indication” that a detective chief inspector, a detective inspector and a detective sergeant may face disciplinary proceedings for failing to “accurately present” information to a district judge when applying for search warrants for three properties. | Following an assessment of the evidence relating to the conduct of five Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers linked to Operation Midland, the IPCC said there was an “indication” that a detective chief inspector, a detective inspector and a detective sergeant may face disciplinary proceedings for failing to “accurately present” information to a district judge when applying for search warrants for three properties. |
| However, it cleared a deputy assistant commissioner, understood to be Steve Rodhouse, who was in day-to-day charge of the operation, and a detective superintendent will face no further investigation into the same allegation. | However, it cleared a deputy assistant commissioner, understood to be Steve Rodhouse, who was in day-to-day charge of the operation, and a detective superintendent will face no further investigation into the same allegation. |
| The statement said the IPCC had also discontinued its investigation into claims that three of the detectives failed to properly investigate allegations made by Nick. | The statement said the IPCC had also discontinued its investigation into claims that three of the detectives failed to properly investigate allegations made by Nick. |
| “There is no evidence to indicate bad faith, malice or dishonesty and no indication any of the officers may have behaved in a manner which would justify disciplinary proceedings,” the watchdog said. “The information available indicates the investigation was extensive and carried out diligently with the majority of the decisions made appropriately recorded.” | “There is no evidence to indicate bad faith, malice or dishonesty and no indication any of the officers may have behaved in a manner which would justify disciplinary proceedings,” the watchdog said. “The information available indicates the investigation was extensive and carried out diligently with the majority of the decisions made appropriately recorded.” |
| The IPCC also scrapped an investigation into allegations that an inquiry into Lord Brittan was extended without good reason, although the watchdog acknowledged there had been “a significant delay” in informing his family that no further action would be taken. | The IPCC also scrapped an investigation into allegations that an inquiry into Lord Brittan was extended without good reason, although the watchdog acknowledged there had been “a significant delay” in informing his family that no further action would be taken. |
| The IPCC has also closed an investigation into allegations that there were irregularities in the seizure of exhibits during the searches. | The IPCC has also closed an investigation into allegations that there were irregularities in the seizure of exhibits during the searches. |
| Assistant commissioner Fiona Taylor, who is in charge of professionalism at the Met, said: “Whilst the Met is clear we did not get everything right, the IPCC has found no evidence to indicate bad faith, malice or dishonesty on the part of the officers as they investigated the allegations made by Nick. | |
| “The IPCC also state that the information available to them indicates the investigation was extensive and carried out diligently. | “The IPCC also state that the information available to them indicates the investigation was extensive and carried out diligently. |
| “This work was carried out against a backdrop of intense scrutiny and allegations that in the past the Met had covered up sensitive allegations about prominent people. | “This work was carried out against a backdrop of intense scrutiny and allegations that in the past the Met had covered up sensitive allegations about prominent people. |
| “Our work to carry forward Sir Richard’s recommendations is ongoing, and we are working with the College of Policing and others to that effect.” | “Our work to carry forward Sir Richard’s recommendations is ongoing, and we are working with the College of Policing and others to that effect.” |