File concerning ‘unnatural sexual behaviour’ at Westminster found in archives

By The Press Association21st January 2015News EnglandInquiry, News England, Sexual Abuse

A file concerning past “unnatural sexual” behaviour at Westminster has been discovered among the National Archives.

The document, previously classified, was uncovered by university lecturer Dr Chris Murphy late last year in Kew, south west London.

A Cabinet Office spokeswoman said: “In this case, the file was kept closed and retained as it contained information from the security services and advice from the Law Officers.

“These classifications are reviewed periodically.”

Asked whether it would be released to the current institutional child sex abuse inquiry, the spokeswoman added: “We are clear that any files that are pertinent to the historical child sex abuse inquiry will be made available to the panel.”

Home Secretary Theresa May set up the inquiry to find out whether public bodies had neglected or covered up allegations of child sex abuse in the wake of claims paedophiles had operated in Westminster in the 1980s.

Dr Murphy told Sky News he was shocked to come across the document in November, entitled: “PREM19/588 – SECURITY. Allegations against former public [word missing] of unnatural sexual proclivities; security aspects 1980 Oct 27 – 1981 Mar 20.”

He told the broadcaster: “I think I did a double-take and then started wondering what the potential implications of the title, which is a little vague, could be.”