`No evidence` prosecution of woman shelved by officers over alleged Sir Edward Heath link
An inquiry has dismissed claims that a police force dropped a prosecution against a Filipino brothel keeper because she threatened to allege publicly that former prime minister Sir Edward Heath had been involved in child sex offences.
May 12, 2016
By Nick Hudson
An inquiry has dismissed claims that a police force dropped a prosecution against a Filipino brothel keeper because she threatened to allege publicly that former prime minister Sir Edward Heath had been involved in child sex offences.
Last August the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) launched an investigation into alleged historical corruption after information from a retired officer raised concerns that Wiltshire Police deliberately caused a criminal prosecution to fail in 1994.
It was alleged the defendant had threatened to tell the press she supplied Sir Edward with males under the age of consent for sex if the trial went ahead.
Investigators examined the circumstances around the outcome of a court case relating to Myra Ling Ling Forde, in February 1994.
The IPCC said it found “no evidence” to support the suggestion that the alleged comment had any bearing on the outcome.
Lead investigator James Aston also found no officers were aware of the alleged comment and failed to act upon it.
The IPCC said: “The investigation concluded that the trial against Ms Forde was stopped by the prosecution because their witnesses would not attend court or refused to give evidence.”
Sir Edward, who led the Conservative government between 1970 and 1974, died at home in Salisbury in July 2005, aged 89.
He became the most high-profile figure linked to historical abuse allegations last year.
After the IPCC investigation was announced, Wiltshire Police appealed for potential victims and others with information to come forward.
In the days that followed, it emerged that a number of other forces were also carrying out inquiries.
In a statement issued on Thursday (May 12), Wiltshire Police said: “As a result of the announcement by the IPCC naming Sir Edward Heath, Wiltshire Police felt it was appropriate to make an appeal to the public for any information relating to the allegation.
“As a result of the appeal, a number of people individually came forward with information.
“This led to a wider police investigation being established and we are following a number of lines of inquiry.”
The move in mid August last year to put Wiltshire Police in charge came only a week after it was announced that the force was being investigated itself by the IPCC over claims that it failed to investigate allegations against Sir Edward in the 1990s.
A statement issued then said: “At this time, the investigation led by Wiltshire Police continues and a panel of independent experts outside of policing is providing ongoing scrutiny of the investigation and its proportionality.”
The IPCC ruling tallies with comments made last August by the prosecuting barrister at the time of the unsuccessful 1994 prosecution who said claims against Sir Edward played no part in the decision to drop the case in question in the early 1990s.
It did not proceed because of a lack of evidence, Judge Nigel Seed QC said.
And he added: “The decision for the case to proceed no further was mine and was based on the lack of evidence and had nothing whatsoever to do with any potential allegations against Edward Heath.”
Former friends and colleagues of Sir Edward have rallied to defend his reputation and criticised the way the investigation is being handled.
Lord Armstrong of Ilminster, who as Robert Armstrong was principal private secretary to the prime minister during his whole term of office from 1970-74, said he “never felt a whiff of sexuality about Ted Heath, whether it w