DOCSLIB.ORG

Deterrence of Fraud with EU Funds Through Investigative Journalism in EU-27

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Deterrence of Fraud with EU Funds Through Investigative Journalism in EU-27 DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR INTERNAL POLICIES POLICY DEPARTMENT D: BUDGETARY AFFAIRS Deterrence of fraud with EU funds through investigative journalism in EU-27 STUDY Abstract: The study depicts the state of investigative journalism in the 27 EU member states, with a focus on Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Spain, UK and a special focus on the interaction between European institutions and investigative journalists. It illustrates conditions promoting or impeding good investigative journalism in general, and in particular for reporting on fraud with EU funds and revenues. It recommends: a swift implementation of workable freedom of information laws across the EU, comprehensiveness of data provided by EU bodies and member states on their spending, targeted training for journalists, promotion of investigative centres and more cooperation between journalists and officials at EU and national levels, this in view of advanced transparency and helping citizens to understand the added value of EU spending. 17/10/2012 PE 490.663 EN This document was requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Budgetary Control. It designated Bart STAES, MEP, to follow the study. AUTHORS Principal author for Fonds Pascal Decroos: Margo Smit, director Vereniging van Onderzoeksjournalisten co-authors: Brigitte Alfter, Mar Cabra, Annamarie Cumiskey, Ides Debruyne, Marcos García Rey, Rafael Njotea, Albrecht Ude Rozenweg 4-B B-1731 Zellik Belgium RESPONSIBLE ADMINISTRATOR Helmut Werner Policy Department D: Budgetary Affairs European Parliament B-1047 Brussels E-mail: [email protected] LINGUISTIC VERSIONS Original: EN Translation executive summaries: DE, FR ABOUT THE EDITOR To contact the Policy Department or to subscribe to its newsletter please write to: [email protected] Manuscript completed in August 2012. Brussels, © European Union, 2012. This document is available on the Internet at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/studies DISCLAIMER The opinions expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Parliament. Reproduction and translation for non-commercial purposes are authorized, provided the source is acknowledged and the publisher is given prior notice and sent a copy. Deterrence of fraud with EU funds through investigative journalism in EU-27 __________________________________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .....................................................................................................................................7 List of abbreviations ........................................................................................................................9 Executive summary....................................................................................................................... 11 Zusammenfassung........................................................................................................................ 16 Synthèse ........................................................................................................................................ 21 1. Investigating Europe, mapping the great unknown .......................................................... 26 1.1. Investigative journalism, fraud, funds and Europe: definitions 26 1.1.1. Fraud 26 1.1.2. Funds 27 1.1.3. Investigative journalism 28 1.1.4. Europe 30 1.2. Investigative journalism in Europe, an emerging ecosystem 30 1.3. Investigative journalism in and on Europe, a mapping exercise 33 1.3.1. Mapping the investigative ecosystem (Annex 1) 33 1.3.2. Mapping investigative output on fraud with EU funds (Annex 2 and 11) 34 1.3.3. Contributors to the mapping exercise (Annex 13) 34 2. The state of investigative journalism in Europe, analysing the playing field................... 35 2.1. (Investigative) Journalism in financial crisis 35 2.2. Organising investigative reporting in the newsroom (annex 3) 38 2.3. Investigative journalism as a skill (annex 4) 41 2.4. The investigative journalist, an endangered species? 43 2.4.1. Work pressure and the crisis of the freelancer 43 2.4.2. Threats and intimidation (annex 5) 44 2.5. Media ownership and pluralism 48 2.5.1. A role for Europe? 49 2.5.2. The case of public broadcasting 53 2.5.3. A role for (non-profit) investigative centres 54 2.6. FOI, whistle-blowers and protection of sources 56 2.6.1. Freedom of information (annex 6) 56 2.6.1.1 Access to document and transparency rules in the EU bodies 57 2.6.1.2 Freedom of information laws in the member states 59 2.6.1.3 Interaction between the various levels 60 3 Policy Department D: Budgetary Affairs __________________________________________________________________________________________ 2.6.1.4 Active transparency and access to data 60 2.6.2. Whistle-blowing rules (annex 7) 61 2.6.3. Protection of sources (annex 8) 63 2.7. Media accountability, watching the watchdog 67 2.8. Press Freedom (annex 9) 69 2.9. Conclusion 70 3. The state of investigative journalism on fraud with EU funds, analysing output ............ 71 3.1. Amount and origin 71 3.1.1. Amount 71 3.1.2. Origin 74 3.1.3. Role of the Brussels press corps 76 3.2. Topic trends in investigative output on the EU 78 3.3. Sources for investigative reporting on EU funds 81 3.3.1. Data 81 3.3.2. Documents 84 3.3.3. Oral sources 85 3.3.4. The benefit of sharing sources 86 3.4. Impact 87 3.5. Conclusions 89 4. Zooming in ............................................................................................................................. 90 4.1. Romania 90 4.1.1. Focus - Transparenta Fondurilor Europene 91 4.1.2. Recommendations 92 4.1.3. Conclusion 94 4.2. Spain (annex 10) 95 4.2.1. Focus – when cross-border co-operation is needed 95 4.2.2. Recommendations 98 4.2.3. Conclusion 98 4.3. Hungary 99 4.3.1. Focus – the media law of January 2011 100 4.3.2. Recommendations 103 4.3.3. Conclusion 104 4.4. United Kingdom (annex 11, 12) 105 4.4.1. Focus – large quantity data journalism 106 4.4.2. Recommendations 108 4.4.3. Conclusion 109 4.5. Denmark 109 4 Deterrence of fraud with EU funds through investigative journalism in EU-27 __________________________________________________________________________________________ 4.5.1. Focus – Editorial priorities 110 4.5.2. Recommendations 113 4.5.3. Conclusions 114 4.6. Italy 115 4.6.1. Focus – a renaissance, ‘sort of’ 115 4.6.2. Recommendations 119 4.6.3. Conclusion 121 4.7. EU institutions 122 4.7.1. Focus – in search of co-operation 122 4.7.2. Recommendations 125 4.7.3. Conclusion 126 5. Incentives and impediments to investigative Journalism on EU funds .......................... 127 5.1. No money, no time? No argument! 127 5.2. Europe is not on our radar. Whose radar would that be? 128 5.3. Lack of journalism skills 129 5.4. Access to data and documents, towards workable FOI acts Europe-wide 130 5.5. Protect the source to counter a culture of silence 131 5.6. Press freedom: easy to endorse, hard to enforce 132 5.7. Business model diversity as strength 133 5.8. The urge for co-operation 134 6. Conclusions .......................................................................................................................... 135 Bibliography................................................................................................................................ 137 5 Policy Department D: Budgetary Affairs __________________________________________________________________________________________ List of Annexes ANNEX 1 - The investigative journalism landscape in EU-27 and the brussels EU media ......143 ANNEX 2 - Investigative reporting on the European Union focusing on addressing cases of fraud with EU funds within the Member States, EU institutions, organisations or NGOS.........................................................................................................................191 ANNEX 3 - Statistics on grants from Scoop, European Journalismfund and Fonds Pascal Decroos .....................................................................................................................223 ANNEX 4 - Farmsubsidy.org and Fishsubsidy.org.....................................................................225 ANNEX 5 - ‘Tillack’ case and protection of sources ...................................................................231 ANNEX 6 - Freedom of Information Legislation ........................................................................235 o within the EU member states ..................................................................................235 o within the EU institutions........................................................................................235 ANNEX 7 - State of Legislature on Whistle-Blowing in EU member states in 2009.................239 ANNEX 8 - Constitutional or legal Protection of Sources in the EU-27 ....................................241 ANNEX 9 - RSF Press freedom Index 2011 / 2012 ......................................................................245 ANNEX 10 - Spain, the role of investigative journalism in relation to fraud and misuse of European union funds (2006-2012)........................................................................247 ANNEX 11 - UK Cuttings ..............................................................................................................259 ANNEX 12 - Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Coverage of EU Fraud, Waste and Mismanagement in the UK Media from 2006-2011...............................................283
Load more

Recommended publications
  • IICSA Inquiry-Westminster 29 March 2019
    IICSA Inquiry-Westminster 29 March 2019 1 Friday, 29 March 2019 1 various matters that arose during Ms Reason's evidence. 2 (10.00 am) 2 That is GNP001006. 3 THE CHAIR: Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the final 3 We invite you to adduce the witness statement of 4 day of this public hearing. Ms Beattie? 4 Christopher Horne, dated March 2019. Mr Horne describes 5 Witness statements adduced by MS BEATTIE 5 how, during the 1972 by-election, there was talk that 6 MS BEATTIE: Good morning, chair. Before we turn to closing 6 Cyril Smith had committed sexual offences with young 7 submissions, there is some further evidence that we 7 boys. Mr Horne, who was a supporter of the Conservative 8 would invite you to adduce. The first is the second 8 Party candidate, David Trippier, says the local police 9 witness statement of Gary Richardson, a detective 9 took action to ensure that this information was not 10 superintendent British Transport Police, dated 10 disseminated, including by a police visit to the 11 13 March 2019. This concerns email correspondence 11 Conservative Party campaign office where the police said 12 received by the British Transport Police from 12 that any mention of Cyril Smith's predilection for young 13 North Wales Police in 2017 about Peter Morrison being 13 boys would be treated as a criminal offence and lead to 14 taken off a train at Crewe Railway Station. The British 14 an order to stay out of the by-election. That reference 15 Transport Police did not take any further action in 15 is INQ004206.
    [Show full text]
  • How Leveson Got It Wrong Page 8
    FREE£1 No 215 Summer 2018 Journal Press of the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom MEDIA REFORM 3 END OF THE NINE VOTES, ROAD FOR CPBF AGM to discuss closure THAT’S ALL of the campaign IT CAME TO ON MAY 9, by 304 to 295, the Commons killed off the continuation of the Leveson Inquiry that had done so much to check the power and corruption of Big Media. How Leveson Another vote a week later confirmed the sentence, and Parliamentary support for attempts to enact the got it wrong 4 last elements of Leveson’s proposals for reform fell THEY THINK away. The Labour Party dropped its amendment to Page 8 confirm the incentives for publishers to offer arbitra- IT’S ALL OVER tion to everyone with complaints against the press, But investigative and that was the formal end of a seven-year battle for This was wholly untrue. There had been no journalism thrives media justice. extinction threat, and the move could actually weaken It was back to business as usual with a desperate a free press if a government wanted to. right-wing government pandering to a rampant All along, IPSO has dragged its feet on arbitration. right-wing press. After two years, it grudgingly introduced a voluntary The phone-hacking scandal in 2011 had launched the scheme. Publishers were not required to join this strongest protest ever mounted against the big media scheme, nor to agree to arbitrate every complaint publishers. It brought the sensational Leveson Inquiry even if they did. There were restrictive conditions for and its legal changes to introduce fairness to media complainants on costs and awards, and no cases were regulation.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 2450 Words Private Wojtek: the Bear Who Became
    1 2450 words Private Wojtek: The Bear Who Became a Soldier by Duane Schultz ------ He wrestled, smoked and drank, and even got promoted Once upon a time—it was Wednesday, April 8, 1942, to be precise—a group of Polish soldiers in the Alborz Mountains of Iran came across a young boy carrying a small, emaciated, frightened, orphaned brown bear cub in a burlap sack. What the Polish soldiers were doing there is another story. They had been prisoners of the Russians, held in Siberian labor camps since 1939, when the Russia occupied eastern Poland at the same time the Germans held the western part. The Polish soldiers were part of a massive, brutal deportation of more than one million Polish citizens to camps deep inside Russian territory. Convoys of up to 100 trains transported more than 100,000 Polish people of all ages, who were locked in freight cars with no food, water or sanitation facilities. Those who survived 2 the weeks-long journey were settled in barren camps across Siberia; their average life span was one winter only. As part of that evacuation, Russians executed 22,000 Poles in the Katyn Forest. The massacred victims included 8000 Polish army officers, 7000 policemen and 7000 members of what the Russians termed the “intelligentsia”—university professors, lawyers, doctors, landowners, factory owners, and priests. The soldiers who reached Russia remained prisoners for two years, until Germany invaded in June, 1941. The Russians agreed to release the Poles to serve in the British Army that was fighting the Germans in the Middle East.
    [Show full text]
  • IICSA Inquiry-Westminster 7 March 2019 (+44)207 4041400 [email protected] London EC4A 1JS Epiq Europe Ltd
    IICSA Inquiry-Westminster 7 March 2019 1 Thursday, 7 March 2019 1 Q. Thank you. For the rest of this morning, we can all 2 (10.00 am) 2 assume that, when we talk about Operation Conifer, we 3 THE CHAIR: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to Day 4 of 3 are talking about your Operation Conifer. 4 this public hearing. Mr O'Connor? 4 Let me ask you this: is that operation still active? 5 MR O'CONNOR: Good morning, chair. Our first witness this 5 A. No, it's not. No, it's concluded. 6 morning, chair, is Mr Kirby, who is in the witness box. 6 Q. You know, Mr Kirby, that Operation Conifer, the 7 MR STEPHEN KIRBY (sworn) 7 Wiltshire Police Operation Conifer, is not, broadly 8 Examination by MR O'CONNOR 8 speaking, within the scope of this investigation. 9 MR O'CONNOR: Could you give your full name, please? 9 However, there is one small exception to that, which 10 A. Yes, my name is Stephen Kirby. I'm from 10 relates to information that you received either towards 11 Wiltshire Police and I'm a detective superintendent. 11 the end of or, in fact, after the conclusion of your 12 Q. Mr Kirby, in your witness statement you describe 12 investigation from two retired police officers named 13 yourself as the senior investigating officer for 13 Sinclair and Holmes. Do you understand? 14 Operation Conifer. Mr Kirby, we, in this room, have 14 A. I do. 15 heard evidence in the last few days about an 15 Q.
    [Show full text]
  • {PDF} Soldier Bear Ebook
    SOLDIER BEAR PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Bibi Dumon Tak | 158 pages | 28 Oct 2013 | William B Eerdmans Publishing Co | 9780802854360 | English | Grand Rapids, United States Wojtek (bear) - Wikipedia Soldier Bear. By: Bibi Dumon Tak. Illustrated By: Philip Hopman. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Wishlist Wishlist. Write a Review. Advanced Search Links. Product Close-up This product is not available for expedited shipping. Add To Cart. Absolutely Truly. Careful Enough. The Action Bible, Updated. Waxman at olivia. Dymitr Szawlugo, a Polish soldier who helped care for the bear, in Italy in late after the Battle of Monte Cassino. By Olivia B. Get our History Newsletter. Put today's news in context and see highlights from the archives. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Now. Check the box if you do not wish to receive promotional offers via email from TIME. You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thank you! A young woman, one of many refugees who were traveling with the troops offered to care for the bear, which subsequently travelled to Tehran with them. Adopted as a mascot by soldiers of the 4th Platoon, the bear was named Wojtek pronounced: Voytek and he swiftly became a great attraction. His favourite drink was beer, and he was soon enlisted with the 22 nd Artillery Supply company as a Private with his own pay-book and army serial number. Seemingly oblivious to the sound of gunfire, Wojtek took part in the Battle of Monte Casino, carrying many ammunition boxes and crates of food for his unit.
    [Show full text]
  • (1) the Star of Copernicus (Gwiazda Kopernika) – Based on a Polish Animation Film with English Subtitles
    TWO LEARNING UNITS FOR POLISH AS L3 (1) The Star of Copernicus (Gwiazda Kopernika) – based on a Polish animation film with English subtitles (2) Wojtek, War Hero Bear - book by Jenny Robertson GWIAZDA KOPERNIKA FOR POLISH AS L3 The project was prepared in partnership with the Glasgow University Arts Lab (led by Professor Dauvit Broun) and Education Scotland (represented by Louise Glen) The Project team consisted of: Shona Hugh (Education Scotland) Iza Rudzka (former GU Polish Lektor) Elwira Grossman (University of Glasgow) LEARNING POLISH IS AS EASY AS 1+2 L3 Learning Journey (Polish) is a ready package available on the platform GLOW to teachers who want to introduce pupils (age 9-11) and themselves to Polish The unit is based on a Polish animation entitled The Star of Copernicus (Gwiazda Kopernika) which fits the primary five curriculum perfectly It is primarily for children who are non-native speakers of Polish. However, learning Polish in a classroom could improve Polish children’s self-esteem and facilitate cross- cultural connections so the project aims to benefit both groups of learners THE LEARNING UNIT INCLUDES Pupil Activity Pack Teacher’s Notes for the film available on GWIAZDA KOPERNIKA (available on GLOW with English subtitles) L3 Learning Journey (general description) Sound files for all Polish words and expressions used in the unit We’re planning to add pp for classroom use For Scotland's learners, with Scotland's educators THE STAR OF COPERNICUS GWIAZDA KOPERNIKA In 2009, Andrzej Orzechowski and Zdzisław Kudła, made an animation film retelling a life story of the young Copernicus.
    [Show full text]
  • The Formation of Organized Abuse “Media Templates”
    http://criminology.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264079.001.0001/acrefore- 9780190264079-e-113 Organized sexual abuse refers to the coordinated sexual abuse of multiple children by multiple perpetrators. It has proved to be a particularly controversial form of sexual abuse. Initial reports of organized abuse in the 1980s were met with shock and disbelief, followed by a significant backlash as Journalists and academics claimed that organized abuse allegations were the product of “moral panic” and “false memories.” In the mass media, investigations into organized abuse were presented throughout the 1990s as evidence that public anxiety about child sexual abuse had generated a “witch-hunt” in which even the most outrageous allegation of abuse was considered credible. While this argument was advanced by Journalists and academics, it developed first in the mass media, where the culture of news production promoted a particularly skeptical view of sexual abuse allegations. Claims of a sexual abuse witch-hunt were embedded within a broader backlash against feminism and child protection that called into question the prevalence and severity of sexual violence. Journalists and editors took a particularly activist role in the social construction of organized abuse as synonymous with false and exaggerated allegations. A number of recent developments have fragmented an apparent Journalistic consensus over the incredibility of organized abuse claims. The mass media has played a key role in publicizing the problem of clergy abuse, focusing in particular on institutionalized cultures of silence and disbelief. Sexual abuse by celebrities and authority figures has also received global media coverage and emphasized the failure of authorities to act on reports or suspicion of sexual abuse.
    [Show full text]
  • Soldier Bear Free
    FREE SOLDIER BEAR PDF Bibi Dumon Tak | 158 pages | 28 Oct 2013 | William B Eerdmans Publishing Co | 9780802854360 | English | Grand Rapids, United States Soldier Bear by Bibi Dumon Tak | Scholastic It is, perhaps, an unlikely way to honour a most unlikely Soldier Bear hero. While The Snowman showed a child flying with an enchanted snowman to the sounds of Walking in the Air sung by a choirboy, A Bear Named Wojtek will feature the Battle of Monte Cassinowhich left 75, people killed or wounded. As he seeks a funding partner, however, ex- Snowman producer Iain Harvey should be able Soldier Bear show that A Bear Named Wojtek has the tear-jerking potential to match War Horsewhich explored the bonds forged between humans and animals during the carnage of the First World War. It began in the Alborz Mountains of northern Iran when a brown bear cub was orphaned by hunters who shot his mother. Then in the autumn of Soldier Bear boy and the bear cub met Soldier Bear group of Polish soldiers, who were moving through Iran en route for Iraq. By then, the growing bear cub looked tired and hungry. The soldiers felt sorry for him. Soldier Bear knew themselves what it was like to be tired and hungry. Separated from their Soldier Bear families, the soldiers, who were to become members of the 22nd Artillery Soldier Bear Company of the Polish II Corps, bought the orphaned bear from the boy in exchange for some Persian coins, a portion of chocolate, a Swiss army knife and a tin of beef.
    [Show full text]
  • Can the Justice System Adequately Rectify Wrongful Convictions for Historical Sexual Abuse?
    CAN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM ADEQUATELY RECTIFY WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS FOR HISTORICAL SEXUAL ABUSE? A thesis submitted to the University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Humanities 2020 NAOMI-ELLEN J. SPEECHLEY School of Social Sciences Department of Criminology Table of contents Abstract .................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 7 CHAPTER ONE: Wrongful Convictions and Post-Conviction Investigation .......................... 11 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 11 Part 1: ‘Wrongful Convictions’, ‘Miscarriages of Justice’ and ‘Unsafe Convictions’ ......................... 12 Part 2: How and by whom is a conviction reviewed? ....................................................................... 16 Part 3: Alternative post-conviction casework approaches: pro bono and campaigning groups ...... 26 Part 4: Applying ‘interested’ and ‘disinterested’ approaches to historical sexual abuse cases ....... 34 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................................................ 41 CHAPTER TWO: Particular Difficulties Pertaining to Historical Sexual Abuse Cases ......... 42 Introduction .....................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Read Fall 2012 Newsletter
    OLISH CENTER NEWSLETTER P OF DISCOVERY AND LEARNING A NEW GALLERY EXHIBIT AT THE POLISH CEN TER THE POLISH SECOND CORPS, WOJTEK THE SOLDIER BEAR AND MONTE CASSINO ROM SIBERIA TO TEHERAN, PALESTINE, EGYPT, ITALY, ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND — September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, Fincorporating the western Polish provinces into the German Reich and establishing the General Government in the remainder of the central provinces under its control. September 17, 1939, Russia, an ally of Germany, invaded the Polish eastern provinces, incorporating them into the Soviet Union. Over 1.5 million Poles were eventu- ally rounded-up and FORCIBLY DEPORTED to labor camps in northern Russia, Siberia and Kazakhstan. Approximately 3.5 million Poles were sent to slave labor in Germany. Following a surprise German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, Russia concluded an agreement with Britain and the Polish government in exile to free Poles detained in the Soviet Union in order to form an army under the command of General Władysław An- ders—who until then was imprisoned and tortured in the infamous Moscow Lubianka prison. Able volunteers were followed by a wretched population of starving men, women and children who hoped to escape the misery of Russian exile. Unable to come to terms with the Soviet regime, General Anders, like a Polish Moses, led a ragtag group across the Caspian Sea to freedom in Iran. While in Iran, they adopted Wojtek, a baby brown Syrian bear who was to become a companion and Private in the Polish Army. Together with Polish units already in combat in Egypt and Libya, they made up the Polish Second Corps under the command of the British Eighth Army.
    [Show full text]
  • The Impact of Being Wrongly Accused of Abuse in Occupations of Trust: Victims’ Voices
    The Impact of Being Wrongly Accused of Abuse in Occupations of Trust: Victims’ Voices Carolyn Hoyle, Naomi-Ellen Speechley, and Ros Burnett University of Oxford Centre for Criminology The Authors Professor Carolyn Hoyle has expertise on victims in criminal justice and on various aspects of miscarriages of justice. She has recently completed an in-depth study of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (Hoyle and Sato, forthcoming). Naomi-Ellen Speechley was a Research Assistant for Carolyn Hoyle’s study of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, and Lead Researcher for the present project. She was formerly Manager of the Innocence Project at the University of Leeds, and is embarking on a doctorate focused on miscarriages of justice (Speechley, 2013; McCartney and Speechley, 2015). Dr Ros Burnett, formerly a Reader in Criminology, is now a Research Associate at the Centre for Criminology, University of Oxford. She has recently edited a book on wrongful allegations of abuse (Burnett, in press). She is a voluntary research consultant to FACT. Acknowledgements and Declaration The research team is grateful to the research participants for their time and effort in contributing their voices. While the impetus to carry out the study came from a small bequest of £5000 towards research on false allegations, and FACT1 facilitated our access to ‘legally innocent’ participants, the focus, methodology, writing and production of the report and all other aspects of the project have been executed independently from FACT by a team at the Centre for Criminology, University of Oxford, generously funded by the University of Oxford John Fell Fund and the Law Faculty Research Support Fund.
    [Show full text]
  • The Independent Review of the Metropolitan Police Service's Handling of Non-Recent Sexual Offence Investigations Alleged Against Persons of Public Prominence
    The Independent Review of the Metropolitan Police Service's handling of non-recent sexual offence investigations alleged against persons of public prominence Introduction to publication Friday 4 October 2019 WARNING – The report which follows this introduction contains graphic descriptions of sexual abuse that people may find upsetting and disturbing If anyone has been affected by the content of the report, support and advice is available by contacting London Survivors Gateway on 0808 8010860 or Rape Crisis national helpline on 0808 802 9999. Introduction In February 2016, the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Lord Hogan-Howe, asked retired High Court Judge, Sir Richard Henriques, to carry out a review into the Metropolitan Police Service’s (MPS) handling of a series of allegations made by Carl Beech, known as Operation Midland. Lord Hogan-Howe also asked that Sir Richard review other separate investigations into allegations of non-recent sexual offences so that the MPS could learn any lessons from that review. Sir Richard’s subsequent report examined eight MPS investigations. He outlined serious failings in Operation Midland (Chapter 2 – allegations made by Carl Beech aka ‘Nick’) and Operation Vincente (Chapter 3 - an investigation into an allegation from a different complainant alleging rape by Lord Brittan.) The MPS has apologised for significant mistakes identified by Sir Richard. In commissioning the review, the MPS sought to open its investigations to significant scrutiny with the intention of learning any lessons from these types of cases involving historical allegations against persons of public prominence. The MPS is today publishing three chapters of Sir Richard Henriques' Independent Review: Chapter 1 entitled ‘Independent Review’ has previously been published in a redacted form, and the publication today removes the vast majority of those redactions.
    [Show full text]