By Gavin Mackintosh
Cliff Richard has hired lawyers to sue the BBC and south Yorkshire Police over their handling of the police raid on his home.
Richard’s home was raided by officers in 2014, after they launched an investigation into historic sex allegations.
The singer was accused of sexually assaulting a young boy in Sheffield after a Billy Graham evangelical crusade meeting in 1985. The BBC at the time, televised the raid and broadcast it live to viewers.
This left the pop star deeply embarrassed and upset. His reputation was on the line, especially as the self-professed Christian, has long been rumoured to be gay. It immediately made the truth of the allegation probable, something that must have bothered Richard deeply.
There has never been any evidence to back up rumours about Sir Cliff Richard’s sexuality, though no official comment has come from him in reaction to those.
STATEMENT
In a statement from Sir Cliff Richard, he stated “in the absence of satisfactory answers, a court will determine whether or not their behaviour was justified and proportionate, he said”
South Yorkshire Police had liaised with the BBC to provide broadcasting coverage of the raid of his Berkshire Penthouse in 2014.
INVESTIGATION
In 2015, an independent investigation condemned South Yorkshire Police for releasing ” highly confidential” information to the BBC, though a Parliamentary Committee found that the BBC had acted “properly”.
The Parliament Committee are not a court, but will be expected to have knowledgeable individuals in the area of media law.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
The BBC‘s actions were protected by their right to freedom of expression in simply accurately reporting on the raid undertaken by South Yorkshire Police.
There can hardly be any legal grounds for suing the BBC for reporting a fact, namely that the home of a major pop star like Cliff Richard was being raided because of allegations into historic sexual allegations.
The BBC later said it was “very sorry” Sir Cliff suffered distress after its coverage of the police raid but said it stands by its decision to report the investigation undertaken by the South Yorkshire Police and the search of his property”.
Sir Cliff Richard will soon find out he has no solid case against the BBC, though he may have some grounds for legal challenge against the police. however, they too may well argue that they have a right to freedom of expression.
Picture by Von Eva Rinaldi – Cliff Richard
