Police apologise to Sir Cliff Richard following ‘insensitive’ live BBC raid broadcast
South Yorkshire Police have apologised to veteran crooner Sir Cliff Richard following a raid on his home which was filmed live by waiting BBC television news crews.
The force has been accused of ‘sheer incompetence’ by MPs for tipping off journalists in advance of its high-profile raid, mounted as part of an investigation into historical abuse of an under-age male.
Addressing MP’s over the affair chief constable David Crompton issued a partial apology to the star over the way it went about the raid, ‘…if we were insensitive about the way we did that.’
Compton said: “‘I have conceded perhaps one or two of the views were a little naive but I think we were reasonable in terms of what we did.”
It followed a bruising round of questioning from home affairs select committee chairman Keith Vaz, who accused the force of a ‘gross lack of competence’ amidst outcry over ongoing scandals in Hillsborough and Rotherham.
For its part the BBC was found to have acted ‘perfectly properly’.