Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC Newsroom Live 20171005 : compare

Over the right to chose when to end his life. Also this hour sales of new cars have declined for the sixth month in a row. Just over 400,000 new vehicles were registered in september down more than 9 from last year. And the home nation fortunes hang in the balance as england, scotland and Northern Ireland prepare for World Cup Qualifiers tonight. Good morning. Its thursday 5th october. Im annita mcveigh. Welcome to bbc newsroom live. We begin with breaking news, police have said former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath would have been questioned about allegations of child sexual abuse by seven people had he still been alive. Wiltshire police, which has led a two year £i. 5 police, which has led a two year £1. 5 million inquiry into the late tory leader, has today published a report detailing its findings. Its a News Conference in swindon isjust beginning, lets go to swindon and the Wiltshire Police News Conference. Wiltshire police on behalf of the National Police chief s council took on this investigation knowing that due to the public prominence of Sir Edward Heath both during his life and after his death there would bea life and after his death there would be a significant Public Interest, comment, and intense scrutiny. I recognise that operation conifer had the potential to damage confidence in Wiltshire Police, a force i am proud of and which has a commendable and strong reputation. This damage, i believed, would be due to the views held by some that investigating allegations concerning deceased individuals. Some may have challenges around the costs associated with complex investigations at a time of budget cuts, and perhaps some who have intransigent opinions and will a lwa ys intransigent opinions and will always defend the conduct and behaviour of others, whatever the voracity of those allegations. Mindful of this i have ensured this investigation has been conducted fairly, has been conducted objectively, and with respect and without fear or favour. We objectively, and with respect and without fear orfavour. We have objectively, and with respect and without fear or favour. We have gone where the evidence has taken us, whether it supports or negates the allegations. Most importantly, the report does not draw any conclusions as to the likely guilt or innocence of Sir Edward Heath. 0r make any comment on the action the Crown Prosecution Service may have taken if he was alive today. I have had absolute, so confidence in the 0peration conifer Investigation Team, knowing that they would conduct a high quality and ethical investigation, where fairness, proportionality, and integrity has remained at its core throughout. Every single decision, every element of this investigation followed the guidance from 0peration hydrant, which is the National Police chiefs coordination hub for child sexual abuse. At no stage has there been any deviation from current advice, guidance, or legislation. 0peration hydrants advice is compelling, legal and proportionate. There is an obligation to conduct an investigation into allegations to establish the fact that the case, to identify offenders, whether deceased oi identify offenders, whether deceased or alive, and bring any living offenders to justice. Most importantly, and most obviously, there is a duty to protect and safeguard children and adults who may be vulnerable to abuse today. I would ask others to be mindful that when investigators receive these allegations of child sexual abuse, the Investigation Team did not know what it did not know. It did not know the circumstances, it did not know the circumstances, it did not know the circumstances, it did not know the voracity, the risks, the implications or other vulnerability factors until a proportionate, professional and objective investigation was conducted it would be impossible to identify and safeguard children and other vulnerable adults who may be at risk today. The safeguarding and protection of Vulnerable People will continue to be our primary reason for conducting this investigation, and my team has not been diverted from this legal and professional responsibility. Children or adults who allege they are being abused, or have been abused, must have the trust and confidence in the police. They deserve to be listened to, they deserve to know they will be taken seriously. They deserve to know the police will support them, and they deserve to know their anonymity will be preserved. That is what i said we will do, that is what we have done, and that is what we will continue to do without fear or favour. There have been many views expressed as to whether the police should investigate alleged offences committed by deceased people. Notwithstanding the guidance, i believe this was the right thing to do. It was the right moral, ethical, and professional thing to do, but i appreciate that every case needs to bejudged on its own merits. I am satisfied, satisfied there were compelling and obvious reasons to investigate allegations made against Sir Edward Heath. As i have said, Sir Edward Heath. As i have said, Sir Edward Heath was an extremely prominent, influentialand high profile person who was arguably one of the most powerful people in the world commensurate with the Public Office and Political Office he held. The allegations against him we re he held. The allegations against him were of the utmost seriousness, and from a significant number of people. I hope people will understand that, given the circumstances, it would be an indefensible dereliction of a chief constables duty not to have investigated the allegations against a former Prime Minister, even though he is deceased. I have made it clear from the outset that, at the end of this investigation, in line with our intention to be as transparent and as open as possible, we would publish a summary report and that is what we have done today. The publication of this report is also in line with advice issued by 0peration hydrant. The report has been scrutinised by a number of stakeholders and contributors to ensure complete balance, complete accuracy, and measure, and only makes findings that can legitimately and realistically be made. The report provides a factual account of the context for this investigation. What the investigation focused upon, and how the investigation was conducted. 0peration conifer, by its very nature, was complex, politically sensitive, and unique. Due to these unprecedented circumstances, i have sought advice, council, and support through this investigation from a number of people. That confidentiality between me and those individuals will remain intact. The role of the Police Service is very clear in the criminal Justice Service is very clear in the criminaljustice process. The police have a duty to investigate and go where the evidence takes us. It is not our role to prove the innocence oi not our role to prove the innocence or guilt, but to simply present the fa cts. Or guilt, but to simply present the facts. Therefore this report does not apportion guilt, it does not suggest or conclude guilt, and no inference should be taken from the investigative decisions or conclusions being made by the police. Extreme caution has been given so that no assumptions, no assumptions are publicly drawn about prudence or untruths. The presumption of innocence is enshrined in our law and it is the cornerstone of a just and fair judicial process. Despite misleading and inaccurate commentary, nobody from this Investigation Team, or i, have made any public or private comment or inference as to the hypothetical outcome of the judicial process if Sir Edward Heath were alive. Any such comments or hypotheses would be floored by their very nature. They are misleading, and they distort the criminal justice process. Wiltshire police has and will continue to do all that we are able to protect the anonymity of those people who have come forward. This report will therefore not identify the details of any people who have made disclosures of sexual abuse. I understand that there is an insatiable appetite by some to identify the victims. I will do everything in my power to prevent this from happening, and i would urge all of you here present today to respect what i am saying about anonymity. In order that this investigation has remained ethical, justified and proportionate, and independent Scrutiny Panel was established to check and challenge the investigation. The Panel Members we re the investigation. The Panel Members were given responsibility to examine and attest to the Decision Making and attest to the Decision Making and approach by the Investigation Team. The panel has been provided with detailed briefings, materials and, more recently, full access to the published report. This scrutiny has proved invaluable and enabled 0peration conifer to remain firmly allied to the legislation and to the objectives of this investigation. I would like to thank the members of the panel for their time, for their expertise, there challenge and their support to this investigation. In addition to the independent Scrutiny Panel, 0peration hydrant was asked to conduct two reviews of the investigation itself. Both reviews of the investigation concluded that it was proportionate, it was justified, and it was in compliance with the legislation and governance. Further scrutiny has taken place during the course of this investigation with a value for money review by her majestys inspectorate of constabulary, which was considered by the home office further to application of central funding. This review concluded that the resources deployed on this investigation had been proportionate and reasonable, and commensurate with the scale of the investigation. They make particular reference to the stronger governments, the strict financial controls, and the staffing levels, which were kept to a minimum with low associated costs. In total, 24 with low associated costs. In total, 2a people have worked on operation conifer at varying points in the last two years. The cost of the investigation is £i. 5 last two years. The cost of the investigation is £1. 5 million. The home secretary has recently approved the Home Office Funding of £1. 1 million to take into account that this was a National Operation, in national investigation, and it was carried out on behalf of the National Police Chiefs Council and commissioned by 0peration hydrant. This decision made by the home secretary i believe undermines the Prime Ministers personal commitment to addressing child abuse that has gonein to addressing child abuse that has gone in the past, as mrs may said last week it has tended to be sidelined. During the last two years there has been much commentary in relation to the potential for a judge lead with youth 0peration conifer. At this time i have heard no compelling reasons for such a review, and therefore i am not persuaded to follow this course of action. As i have said, i am clear that it action. As i have said, i am clear thatitis action. As i have said, i am clear that it is not the role of police to judge the guilt or innocence of people and it is obvious at the end of this investigation concerning a deceased suspect there is no potential for a deceased suspect there is no potentialfor a criminal deceased suspect there is no potential for a criminal trial. Most of the elements of the criminal justice process are absent. It is my view the suggestion that a retired judge or otherjudicial appointment could legitimately pronounce the guilt or innocence of Sir Edward Heath is ill conceived. I believe this would provide value for money oi this would provide value for money or indeed a legitimate outcome of the guilt or of Sir Edward Heath. Guilt or innocence of Sir Edward Heath. Throughout the investigation i have been clear Wiltshire Police will be as open and transparent as possible in line with our requirement from the police to remain accountable to the public. It is only right when an investigation with such significance is conducted people bite me who make these decisions should be held to account. People like me. The public should be able to judge the leadership of such hope profile investigations based upon the merit of the investigation that has taken place, not misleading speculation, rumour and inaccurate conjecture. The publication of the summary closure report today provides the openness, transparency, and provides the public accountability that i said there would be, and the report author has complied fully with 0peration hydra nts advice author has complied fully with 0peration hydrants advice on publication. It will now be a matter for others to evaluate and decide what steps should be taken in relation to the operation conifer findings. I recognise that this investigation, the findings, and the summary closure report may raise further questions. But i also believe it signals a watershed moment for people and victims who have suggested or implied there have been a state cover up for some seniorfigures who may been a state cover up for some senior figures who may have been a state cover up for some seniorfigures who may have been involved in child sexual abuse. As many people will know, ipsa, the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse, was set up in march 2015 by the then home secretary, now Prime Minister theresa may. The inquiry was clearfrom Prime Minister theresa may. The inquiry was clear from the outset that it was required to identify the extent to which state or non state institutions have failed in their duty of care to protect children from child sexual abuse. I acknowledge the terms of reference currently published on the website regarding allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by people of public prominence associated with westminster. I particularly welcome their focus on allegations of institutional cover up and conspiracy, and they will review the inadequacies of Law Enforcement responses to the allegations. In light of this, i believe the legitimacy, legality, and obvious Public Interest in this investigation is more relevant and crucial today than ever before. The Public Interest in this case is clear and unequivocal. The statutory responsibility as the chief co nsta ble to responsibility as the chief constable to have conducted this investigation without fear, without favour, i trust, investigation without fear, without favour, itrust, is now investigation without fear, without favour, i trust, is now obvious to all. Thank you, chief constable. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. As mr veal has set out, i have been the Police Gold Commander for operation conifer and have set the Strategic Direction and oversight for the investigation. On a daily basis, the investigation. On a daily basis, the investigation has been led by the senior investigating officer, detective superintendent steve kirby, and his team. My purpose todayis kirby, and his team. My purpose today is to outline the key elements that relate to the investigation. These are contained within the summary closure report. Accordingly, i will look to set out how the investigation commenced, the policing the duty to undertake an investigation in the case of a deceased person, the allegations that have been received, and how these have been investigated, and finally the investigative findings. For those not familiar with the background to the operation conifer investigation, it commenced in august 2015 further to a press Statement Released by the independent Police Complaints commission that announced that they we Re Commission that announced that they were investigating the way that Wiltshire Police had allegedly dealt with a court case in 1994. In the press release, the ipcc outlined that its investigation was directly linked to how Wiltshire Police had dealt with information concerning an allegation that Sir Edward Heath may have been involved in the child abuse related offences. The ipcc press Statement Released into the Public Domain for the first time the Public Domain for the first time the existence of a allegation relating to Sir Edward Heath. Not in the Public Domain at that time was that four other Police Forces were also in the early stages of either scooping or undertaking invest