Harvey Proctor condemns ‘truly disgraceful chapter in history of British policing’

A former Conservative MP who was falsely accused of being a murderer and a sadistic child rapist by Carl Beech has described the investigation into the fraudster’s claims as “a truly disgraceful chapter in the history of British policing”.

Harvey Proctor said the reputations of himself and other high-profile figures had been besmirched as a result of the false allegations, describing the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Midland probe that resulted from them as “rogue, malicious and apparently homophobic”.

The politician was one of several men to have their homes searched as a result of the spurious and harmful allegations that the ex-nurse came forward with, and said the publicity surrounding the accusations forced him to leave his job as private secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Rutland.

In a statement, Mr Proctor (pictured) listed a catalogue of supposed failings on the Metropolitan Police’s part, and criticised Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson because he “gave oxygen” to Beech’s claims by meeting with him and discussing the allegations.

He said: “The Metropolitan Police were lapdogs to Mr Watson’s crude dog whistle. It’s time for the torchlight to take a closer look at Mr Watson.

“It is now beyond doubt that all of these allegations could never have been true and only someone with spectacular bad judgement could think that they might be.

“It is time for an apology from him to me and everyone named or implicated in this truly disgraceful chapter in the history of British policing, which was allowed to happen because of internal failings at the highest level within the Metropolitan Police Service.”

The former politician, who has launched civil action against the force, added: “When resources are in short supply, the Met Police should apologise to the tax payer for squandering millions of pounds – an estimated £4 million directly and indirectly – by their malice, incompetence and negligence on Operation Midland.”

Calling for a fully independent investigation into the operation, he said: “Not just junior officers should be held to account and questioned, but senior officers should be examined too.

“The cost of many millions of pounds to the taxpayer, the lack of accountability of police officers and the impact on the criminal justice system should be meticulously reviewed.

“Thus far, and unbelievably, police officers involved in Operation Midland have been ennobled, enriched and promoted.”

After first coming forward to Wiltshire Police with allegations against Jimmy Savile and his own step-father Major Ray Beech, Carl Beech made a fraudulent £22,000 claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, putting down a deposit on a Ford Mustang a day after receiving the money.

“Mr Beech conducted the investigation – orchestrating who he wanted interviewed or not, who he wanted prosecuting throughout 2014 and 2015 for his personal gain and the police danced to his tune; even ignoring and silencing warnings from within their own ranks,” Mr Proctor said.

“While my livelihood was being torn apart, aided by the police, state funds were made available for Mr Beech to purchase a car he had long coveted.

“All he had to do was lie. Mr Beech lied, lied and lied again and his breathtaking lies were facilitated, enhanced and given credibility by the Met Police without corroboration.”

Mr Proctor, who served as MP for Basildon and Billericay between 1979 and 1987, described how his public perception had been tarnished by being falsely accused of murder, torture and the sexual abuse of children.

Of those that were named by Beech as supposed sexual predators in the course of interviews with the Metropolitan Police, only 72-year-old Mr Proctor and General Sir Hugh Beach, 96, were able to give evidence and denounce Beech’s lies.

Mr Proctor said the jury’s verdicts “vindicate fully my position of innocence I have consistently maintained for myself and for other public figures”.

“Many are dead and cannot defend themselves, yet their names have been cruelly besmirched and their reputations traduced over these last four years or more,” he added.

After coming forward with his dishonest claims, Beech was given anonymity as a result of laws which protect the identity of claimants of sexual abuse.

Calling for similar measures to be introduced in order to prevent those accused from being named until they are formally charged, Mr Proctor said: “Victims of false accusers must be given the same support and recognition as genuine ‘victims’ of child sexual abuse.”

He said: “In these precious last years of my life, I know I can never regain what has been taken from me through Mr Carl Stephen Beech’s mendacious activities and the consequent rogue, malicious and apparently homophobic Metropolitan Police Service’s investigation.

“I have a voice and I will continue to use it and, in whatever is left of my future, do what I believe to be right.

“I do so not just for myself but for the many others who have suffered at the hands of false accusers and an implacable and unjust policing system.”

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “The Met has filed a defence in this civil case and we are not prepared to comment on the case outside of the legal process.”

Copyright (c) PA Media Ltd. 2019, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) Jonathan Brady / PA Wire.