Scotland Yard and Labour MP Tom Watson have been under scrutiny after investigating a fantasist's false allegations of child torture, rape and murder.
Carl Beech, 51, was found guilty at Newcastle Crown Court for perverting the course of justice and one count of fraud after a three-month trial.
Beech accused some of the country's most high-profile figures including Sir Edward Heath, former prime minster and Sir Michael Hanley, former director of the MI5 of serious crimes including child torture, rape and murder. He told police that he was one of many male victims who had been raped and abused by an organised gang including former leaders of the Army, MI5, MI6 and other MPs.
The jury was told that whilst Beech was inventing stories and lying to detectives, he was also committing paedophilia offences which included downloading child abuse images and filming a young boy urinating.
The investigation into Beech's claims was ongoing for 18 months and amounted to almost £4million of tax payers money. Since convicting Beech, Scotland Yard and Labour MP Tom Watson have been under scrutiny. Labour MP Tom Watson allegedly encouraged Beech to go to the police after hearing the false allegations in July 2014.
Sir Richard Henriques, a retired High Court judge said that there were too many mistakes in the way that the police handled the allegations. Sir Richard said: "Within a very few days of receiving all the documents … I concluded that the allegations were fabricated, incredible and untrue."
The operation launched by the Metropolitan Police involved raiding the homes of some of those accused which led to damaged reputations and unnecessary pressure on their personal lives.
Harvey Proctor, former Tory MP, lost his home and job as a result of the false accusations. 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 time for an apology from him to me and everyone named or implicated in this truly disgraceful chapter in the history of British policing.
"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."
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