Met Commissioner Cressida Dick investigated over VIP paedophile ring inquiry

21 December 2019, 08:16

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has been referred to the police watchdog over her role in the investigation into claims of a VIP paedophile ring.

The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) asked the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to look into the matter following a formal complaint from former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor.

Mr Proctor, 72, accused Met chief Cressida Dick of failing to correct false claims of abuse that were made by accuser Carl Beech in 2014 and echoed by a senior officer as "credible and true".

Beech's allegations sparked an extensive police investigation, Operation Midland, into Mr Proctor when Beech falsely told detectives that he had been sexually abused by a number of high-profile government figures during the seventies.

In a statement issued on Friday, the IOPC said they had "received a voluntary referral from MOPAC regarding a complaint about public comments made by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner about Operation Midland.

"The referral also alleges the Commissioner failed to take action to correct a statement made to the media by an Operation Midland detective.

"We are assessing the information provided to determine whether an investigation is necessary and, if so, what level of involvement is required by the IOPC.

"We will provide a further statement once our decision is made."

Dame Cressida said she will co-operate with any inquiry.

Carl Beech - identified during the investigation as "Nick" to protect his identity - claimed he and other boys were raped and tortured in the 1970s and 1980s by prominent members of the establishment.

He was sentenced to 18 years in jail for 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one count of fraud.