By Tony O’Riley-
The director of public prosecutions, Max Hill, is being threatened with legal action over the failure to investigate Dominic Cummings for alleged breaches of the lockdown rules.
The legal action is being taken on behalf of Martin Redston, a 70-year-old London engineer who is concerned that the lockdown laws should apply to everyone irrespective of their position in government.
Hill’s office confirmed his complaint had been passed to a special crime division of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and a full response would follow in “due course”.
The complaint sent to the crime division of the Crime Prosecution Service highlights a very serious loss of public confidence in the due process of the rule of law” as the basis for the request.
The fact this loss of confidence occurred at a time of a continued public health emergency that requires public compliance is also underlines the urgency of it.
An investigation by Durham police into Cummings’ travels found there might have been a minor breach in health protection regulations
The police force decided to take no further action after making no finding in relation to “stay at home” government guidance.
Revealed in the UK Guardian which together with the Daily Mirror, exposed Cummings trip, the letter warns that any delay risked losing evidence such as CCTV footage and credit card records relating to Cummings’ movements in the north-east.
A spokesman for Hill and the CPS said: “We have responded to the letter today referring those involved to the relevant police force as investigating alleged offences is a matter for the police not the CPS.”
Redston, whose complaint is being funded by donations to Crowd Justice, said: “The prime minister was absolutely unequivocal when he said people needed to ‘Stay at home, Protect the NHS and Save Lives’. The rules were entirely clear and should apply to everyone.”
Redston says he was prevented from attending a friend’s funeral due to the lockdown restrictions. And he has also been unable to see his grandchildren since the start of the outbreak.
The revelation of Cummings travel attracted wide attention, forcing the Prime Minister’s senior adviser to explain his actions at a press conference.