BY LUCY CAULKETT
New referrals to the IPCC regarding a cover up of the involvement of an MP in child sex offences in the 1970s have been coming in, according to IPCC Commissioner, Jennifer Izekor , and are to be investigated.
The allegations have been made by retired Met officers, now free to spill the beans on their former corrupt colleagues. The new one involving Essex Police is one of 12 new cases of alleged historical corruption in the Metropolitan Police relating to the investigation of child abuse dating from the 1970s and 2000s, according to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Eight of the thirteen claims relate to investigations into the involvement of MPs in child abuse.
Scotland Yard are looking into the new claims, along with the 17 cases announced earlier this year, all of which related to
to suppressing evidence, hindering or halting investigations and covering up offences to protect MP’s and police officers.
IPCC Commissioner Jennifer Izekor said:
“Our investigators will now oversee these investigations and ensure they meet our robust standards.”
The corruption inquiries will be managed and overseen by the IPCC and are to be conducted by the Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards. One centered on allegations about an attempt in the 1970s to interfere in an investigation that would have revealed an MP to be involved in child sex offences. It is shocking to think that any police officer would want to protect an MP from a crime as horrifying as sexual abuse, when their job should be to protect the public. Special Branch officers are now presiding over an investigation into child sex offences committed by an MP which was subsequently shelved without explanation. A further claim that the security unit covered up evidence relating to an allegation that a serving Met Police officer was involved in a paedophile ring in north London is also being assessed. Allegations against the Metropolitan police are as follows:
ALLEGATIONS
1. That a prosecution against a government official who was in possession of indecent images of children was not pursued following instruction from senior officers and lawyers.
That an investigation into a Paedophile ring in South West London in the 1970s was shut down prematurely on the instruction of senior or high-ranking officers.
2. Evidence relating to child abuse at a youth club in the 1980s and 1990s involving politicians and council officers apparently went missing from a London police station.
3. That an MP was only charged with specimen charges for child sex offences and not more numerous or serious offences.
That paperwork and evidence relating to child sex offences involving an MP disappeared and the MP was released without charge
Failure to investigate child sex offences involving an MP due to instructions from senior or high-ranking officers.
4. Attempts by Special Branch in the 1970s to interfere with an investigation that would have exposed an MP as being involved in child sex offences.
5. An investigation into a west London Paedophile ring in the 1980s had evidence removed and was threatened with closure by senior officers if it uncovered evidence against VIPs.
6. That an MP was arrested and then released without charge on the instruction of senior officers following an investigation into a south London paedophile ring in the 1980s. It is also alleged officers were threatened with breaking the Official Secrets Act if they spoke of the events.
That an investigation into child sex abuse in central London in the 1980s was halted when it became apparent that an MP was involved.
That an investigation into child sex offences committed by an MP was taken over by officers from Special Branch and then not progressed.
That an officer serving with the Metropolitan Police was involved in a paedophile ring in north London and that evidence was covered up by Special Branch.
DISGUSTED
The British public have been disgusted to their teeth about the MP sex scandal, as we all like to think highly of our MP’s and hope we can trust them. Indeed we have had a good break from these depressing stories of MP scandals and police corruption, but these reminders highlight the disturbing fact that we still have to be on our toes when trusting the police and our MP’s. It is fair to say that things may have changed now and perhaps our MP’s have been behaving since the embarrassing exposure of their colleagues in the press, but how far have the police evolved from this? There are certainly many honorable officers in the force, but the reality is that favoritism and corruption can exist in any professional set up, though it is more scary and alrming when we see this in the police force. We would like to think that the force today are more upright and professional than many years ago, but this depends on whether the same influence of abuse of power remains a force amongst them. The guilty parties should be relieved of their post and openly shamed so as to never to be given such an important post again.
