Boris Johnson’s attempt to appoint a former metropolitan police commissioner to another senior police role provoked a furious reaction from three high-ranking victims of the scandal with a VIP pedophile group.
The widow of the late former Interior Minister Leon Britton, the family of the late war hero Lord Bramol and former Tory MP Harvey Proctor have asked the prime minister to reconsider whether Bernard Hogan-Howe is suitable to head the National Crime Agency after leading the catastrophic operation.
Under Lord Hogan-Howe’s leadership, Metropolitan officials raided the homes of all three men after receiving allegations of ritual violence against children and the murder of one man. It later emerged that the source of the allegations, Carl Beach, known as “Nick”, was a science fiction writer whose lies were believed by officials.
Johnson, a close associate of Hogan-Howe, demanded that he be considered for the role, despite his rejection by an independent committee. There is currently a list of two highly qualified police chiefs who have been interviewed by Priti Patel, the interior secretary.
Lady Diana Brittan, whose husband died with a reputation under the cloud, said the former Metropolitan leader had made serious mistakes and was unsuitable for another senior police role.
“During the rule of the Metropolitan Police, Lord Hogan-Howe led numerous high-level failures, including the prosecution of baseless allegations against my late husband, and there is little evidence that he is a suitable candidate for the role,” she said in a rare public statement. . “We need to learn the lessons of the past when it comes to the honesty and transparency of these public appointments.
Procter, who lost his job and home after being arrested for part of Operation Midland, wrote to Johnson that the police in charge of Operation Midland had been promoted or ennobled.
“Please stop this generosity by not pushing Hogan-Howe in this sinecure at the highest level of police in the United Kingdom. That would be a miscalculation of the highest degree and would be catastrophic for the UK police, “the letter said.
“You have already repaid his loyalty tenfold. Don’t make Hogan-Howe the new director general of the National Crime Agency.
Procter’s letter was supported by the family of the late Lord Bramal, a retired field marshal whose home was attacked by 20 police officers in 2015 and whose wife died unaware that he had been acquitted of all child abuse charges. A spokesman told the Guardian that the family “absolutely supported” Procter Hogan-Howe’s request not to be put in charge of the NCA.
Sources familiar with the case confirmed that Johnson had intervened in his job search for £ 223,000.
The Independent Commission rejected Hogan-Howe’s application and instead included Neil Basu, a former head of the fight against terrorism, and Graham Bigard, acting director general, of course.
Johnson’s intervention threw the process into chaos. One source said the work would now be re-announced, while another insisted Hogan-Howe’s name would be added to the list.
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Johnson established a close working relationship with Hogan-Howe, 64, when he was mayor of London, and in 2019, the retired Metropolitan chief approved Johnson to become Tory leader.
In a video posted on Twitter, Hogan-Howe described Johnson as “incredibly effective.” “I found him loyal, honest and he did what he promised to do.
The former police chief, who was ennobled in 2017, apologized to the victims of the investigation of alleged pedophile groups after a damned independent investigation revealed serious omissions.
If he is appointed head of the NCA, Hogan-Howe will succeed Bigar, who became the agency’s interim director general after Dam Lynn Owens stepped down for health reasons last September.
A Conservative peer who was a close associate of Britain’s said there would be “excitement” in parliament if Hogan-Howe was appointed.
“[Hogan-Howe] he should not be allowed to do any other police work, given the damage to the Metropolitan’s reputation, “said the peer. “If given the job, many of Leon’s friends will speak, as will worthy conservatives in lords and municipalities.
Downing Street has not denied that Johnson preferred Hogan-Howe to his role in the NCA, an organization that focuses on fighting organized crime and threats to national security.
A spokesman for the prime minister said: “There is an honest and open campaign to recruit staff to take on this role. I have seen the same speculation as you, and while this process is ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment on potential candidates.
“I think the Home Secretary is responsible for appointing the Director-General in consultation with Scottish ministers and the Ministry of Justice in Northern Ireland, so the Prime Minister has no official role in this process.
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