Police Apology to Harvey Proctor

A copy of the letter below was sent to Northern Voices and other news outlets

over a week ago.  The content is self-explanatory and demonstrates the dangers

which may develop in police investigations.

METROPOLITAN POLICE - TOTAL POLICING

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe QPM, MBA, MA (Oxon)

Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis

4-5 Buckingham Gate

London

SW 1E 6JP

Mr. Harvey Proctor

Via e-mail

8 November 2016

Dear Mr. Proctor,

The Independent Review of the Metropolitan Police Service's handling on non-recent sexual offence investigation alleged against persons of public prominence

Now that we have received the final version of Sir Richard Henriques' report I am writing to you formally to convey my apologies for the failings by the Metropolitan Police Service that Sir Richard has identified in the way in which we handled Operation Midland in which you were a suspect.

Sir Richard has concluded, and I accept, that there were significant failings in the way that the Operation Midland investigation was conducted.  In particular, I accept the following points:

•  The approach adopted in believing the complaint at the outset was wrong;
•  Insufficient attempts were made to test the credibility of the complainant;
•  While it was right that the allegations had to be investigated, the effect of the approach adopted was to unnecessarily prolong the length of the investigation;
•  It was wrong to have searched your property.

For these failings by the MPS I would like to offer you now an unreserved apology.

Yours sincerely

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe

Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis