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BBC accused of ‘cover up’ by police chief over Cliff Richard raid coverage

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By Natalie Mortimer | N/A

August 23, 2014 | 2 min read

The chief constable of South Yorkshire Police has accused the BBC of trying “to cover up” its involvement over the media coverage surrounding the raid on Cliff Richard’s home last week.

In a letter to MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Committee, David Crompton said the force had contacted the BBC to amend an article on its website, which said the raid and subsequent media coverage was “a deliberate attempt by police to ensure maximum coverage”, after claiming the broadcaster was trying to “cover up the fact that it had initiated contact with the force about the story”.

South Yorkshire Police had been challenged by MPs as to how a BBC helicopter had arrived at the scene to broadcast live footage of the officers arriving at the singer’s home in Berkshire, with a search warrant following an allegation of child abuse.

Crompton said the force had "reluctantly agreed" to give the reporter notice of the raid "in order to dissuade the corporation from publishing details of the investigation".

In a statement sent to The Drum, the BBC said: "A BBC journalist approached South Yorkshire Police with information about the investigation. The BBC agreed to follow normal journalistic practice and not to publish a story that might jeopardise a police inquiry.”

Crompton also branded the BBC's use of a helicopter as "disproportionate" and claimed the force had actively sought to delay its arrival at the scene.

Director General Lord Tony Hall and Crompton have been asked to appear before Vaz’s committee on 2 September.

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