Media Never Short of a Good Headline if Police Involved

Never Short of a Good Headline if Police Involved

A recent headline in, # The Irish Times," stated, "Police 'failed' in VIP sex abuse inquiries."

The Sub-Headlines referred to "Scotland Yard reprimanded for errors in historical child sex abuse investigation" and, "Police misled judge to gain search warrant in culture where 'victim' had to be believed. (The Irish Times dated November 9th 2016). 

It is interesting coverage and points to important and significant considerations on how police and other official agencies, perceive and  respond to allegations of sexual assault resulting in the identification of high profile individuals. The independent commission of inquiry suggested that the alleged offenders should be granted anonymity until such time as they are charged  and that their accusers should be referred to as, complainants" rather than as "victims". The retired Judge, Richard Henriques reviewed the conduct of officers involved in three paedophiles investigations, which includes allegations of a "VIP ring"operated in Westminster over 30 years ago. 

Police are daily faced with the dilemma of who to believe and which side is telling the truth. One need only look at what happens in the immediate aftermath of a simple traffic accident. It is invariably claimed that it was the other person who is at fault. Similarly with any argument or assault. It is always the other person who started. 

These investigations ran for a long time and would appear to have encountered some serious obstructions as can be gleaned from the fact that they remained buried for over 30 years and apparently attempts to speedily process the inquiries did not enjoy the ready co-operation that one might reasonably expect. 

However, what is particularly interesting about the comments in Sir Richard's review is that the naming  of alleged perpetrators appears to given rise to concern. Is this solely because the alleged perpetrators are identified as high-ranking individuals  in Government and political life and public service  and their right to a good name and reputation is somehow a superior right to everyone else?

The Judge was particularly critical of the searches the police carried out at the homes of those accused which he termed, " deeply intrusive." The same intrusion into the lives of suspects of crime is a day-to-day part of police operations. How else can one secure critical evidence? 

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Bernard Hogan-Howe apologised for the intrusion into their homes and for the impact of Operation Midland on their lives.

Given that it is certainly not the first time that individuals against whom allegations have been made have been identified and their homes searched, "Intrusively" why is it that it is only now when the alleged offenders are identified as being of the highest political, social and professional classes, that a Judge should express such concern when  police practice is daily brought to the attention of the Judiciary in courts all over the UK? 

The justifiable concern about an individual's good name and reputation ought to apply to all citizens who, for whatever reasons become suspect and the principles of natural justice and all human rights should be strictly adhered to irrespective of who is being questioned or detained by police. It is a pity such issues were not more broadly addressed and appear to have generated real interest and concern only when they infringed on the unfettered domain of the privileged classes.