Boss of police watchdog that cleared officers involved in ‘Fantasist Nick’ scandal of any wrongdoing complains of ‘witch hunt’ against the Met
- Carl Beech falsely accused politicians of abuse, sparking Operation Midland
- Retired judge alleged that officers misled a judge and acted unlawfully
- But officers won’t face disciplinary action or criminal prosecution, IOPC says
- Watchdog’s chief accused critics of decision of taking part in a witch hunt
Police watchdog chief Michael Lockwood has accused critics angry at the clearing of officers who hunted for a bogus VIP paedophile ring of engaging in a ‘witch hunt’.
The director general of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has hit out at fury that its reports into Operation Midland cleared officers of illegal activity.
The disastrous Met Police probe into a child sex abuse and murder ring was sparked by the lies of Carl Beech, known as ‘Nick’, himself a paedophile and fantasist.
Among those falsely accused by Beech were ex-military chief Edwin Bramall, former Home Secretary Leon Brittan and ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor.
Michael Lockwood (right) has accused critics of the IOPC report of engaging in a witch hunt against officers after people including the falsely accused ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor (left) slammed the findings
Mr Lockwood complained in the Guardian of the outcry after his report was branded a whitewash by Mr Proctor as well as ex-Home Secretary David Blunkett.
Retired judge Sir Richard Henriques, who reviewed Operation Midland when it collapsed in March 2016 and exposed Beech as a fantasist, has also criticised the watchdog’s findings.
The IOPC has rejected claims that officers should face criminal prosecution or even disciplinary action – despite Sir Richard’s report concluding officers misled a judge and acted unlawfully to obtain search warrants.
Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor branded the IOPC report into the officers ‘a whitewash’ after police believed the lies of Carl Beech (pictured, being interviewed over his claims)
But Mr Lockwood said: ‘If we want change, if we want to ensure that the failings of Operation Midland are never repeated again, it is not a witch-hunt of individuals that will prevent this, it is organisational change.’
He added: ‘I understand that those who have suffered great injustices as a result of the lies told by Carl Beech are unhappy with our conclusions, but many of the comments made are inaccurate and appear to be based on misunderstandings of the role and remit of the IOPC.’
The watchdog’s report – published yesterday – found no evidence of deliberate wrongdoing, but admitted there were shortcomings.
Steve Rodhouse oversaw Operation Midland, looking for evidence to support allegations made by Beech from 2014 to 2016.
He and officer Kenny McDonald, who said Beech’s claims were ‘true’, were both cleared in the report.
Steve Rodhouse (left), the officer who oversaw the investigation, remains in his £240,000-a-year job at the National Crime Agency. Neither he nor Det Supt Kenny McDonald (right) were questioned by the watchdog
Mr Lockwood says that there actions in supervising search warrant applications did not meet the threshold for misconduct.
Defending police officers, he said that they deserve understanding for making decisions ‘many of us would be paralysed by’ as he called for a presumption of their innocence.