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Honours officer defends inquiry Honours officer defends inquiry
(28 minutes later)
The Metropolitan police chief who led the cash-for-honours inquiry said he received "less than full co-operation" from some people involved in the probe.The Metropolitan police chief who led the cash-for-honours inquiry said he received "less than full co-operation" from some people involved in the probe.
Assistant Commissioner John Yates said he did not believe this was deliberate but said some people treated them as a political rather than criminal problem.Assistant Commissioner John Yates said he did not believe this was deliberate but said some people treated them as a political rather than criminal problem.
He told Public Administration Committee MPs no "improper pressure" had been put on him during the 16-month inquiry He told Public Administration Committee MPs no "improper pressure" had been put on him during the 16-month inquiry.
No charges were brought after the probe into the alleged sale of honours.No charges were brought after the probe into the alleged sale of honours.
The MPs' committee is looking at the "lessons learned" from the investigation, such as whether the law needs changing.The MPs' committee is looking at the "lessons learned" from the investigation, such as whether the law needs changing.
The police studied claims of peerages being offered in return for loans. The police studied claims peerages were offered in return for loans or donations.
LeaksLeaks
On Tuesday, the MPs began questioning Mr Yates, Carmen Dowd, head of the special crime division of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and David Perry QC, advisor to the CPS. The MPs are questioning Mr Yates, Carmen Dowd, head of the special crime division of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and David Perry QC, advisor to the CPS.
It is believed some committee members want to ask Mr Yates about the way the inquiry was conducted, and whether any leaks to the media came from the police. Mr Yates said the probe took a long time because the subject was "necessarily quite complex and difficult".
Others are expected to ask whether a prosecution could ever be successful under present legislation - the 1925 Honours Act - and whether the standard of proof required is too high. There was a sense they thought that we would ask questions get some answers and simply go away Assistant Commissioner John Yates class="" href="/welsh/hi/newsid_7050000/newsid_7058600/7058644.stm">Key points: Honours hearing
One MP told the BBC that the committee had to make sure the questioning of Mr Yates did not amount to a retrial of those involved. "There were however instances when we received less than full cooperation," he said.
The committee is likely to ask whether Downing Street was cooperative with police and whether Mr Yates thought his evidence had been enough to secure a prosecution. "I don't say that now in a sense that it was deliberate in its intent. But I think there was a sense they thought that we would ask questions get some answers and simply go away. That is not how police investigations work."
Tory MP Charles Walker pressed the police chief to say why it was necessary to beat down the door of one suspect in a "6am raid".
He also asked if anyone on his team had leaked to the press details of the people involved in the case or when raids on their homes would occur.
"It seemed the press knew where and when to turn up," he said.
'Beat down the door'
Mr Yates said this was "absolute nonsense", asking: "Have you got proof of that?"
"The comments simply do not merit a response. We have people working for us who we completely trust," he said.
Asked why it was necessary to carry out dawn raids on those suspected of perverting the course of justice, he said: "People under suspicion for this sort of case will try to hide evidence."
He said the police in this case did not "beat down the door" and he had looked at the "least intrusive way" of dealing with "extremely high profile" people.
'Sensitive information'
Earlier, Mr Yates said he was limited by what he could tell the MPs.
It was his view that it was neither appropriate nor fair for him to "reveal any sensitive information gleaned during the course of the police investigation", he said.
"I can't divulge the actual details of the evidence against individuals - I can talk about the case in a generic sense," he said.
Among issues the committee is expected to ask about is whether a prosecution could ever be successful under present legislation - the 1925 Honours Act - and whether the standard of proof required was too high.
The MPs began a general inquiry into "propriety issues" relating to the honours system in March last year.The MPs began a general inquiry into "propriety issues" relating to the honours system in March last year.
No prosecutions
But they had to suspend it just a week later when the separate police investigation was launched.But they had to suspend it just a week later when the separate police investigation was launched.
The MPs decided to resume their inquiry after the CPS announced in July this year that no charges would be brought in relation to loans to Labour. 'Thorough and exhaustive'
It was confirmed earlier this month there would also be no prosecutions relating to Tory lenders.
The police investigation, during which more than 130 people were interviewed and four people were arrested, focused on allegations that peerages had been offered in return for loans to Labour and the Conservatives ahead of the 2005 general election.The police investigation, during which more than 130 people were interviewed and four people were arrested, focused on allegations that peerages had been offered in return for loans to Labour and the Conservatives ahead of the 2005 general election.
Figures questioned by officers included the then Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Tory leader Michael Howard.Figures questioned by officers included the then Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Tory leader Michael Howard.
All involved in the investigation denied any wrongdoing and the CPS said in July that there was "insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction against any individual for any offence".All involved in the investigation denied any wrongdoing and the CPS said in July that there was "insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction against any individual for any offence".
The committee has previously described the police's efforts as "thorough and exhaustive". The MPs decided to resume their inquiry after the CPS announced in July this year that no charges would be brought in response to the inquiry.