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British police investigating child sex abuse claims involving ex-PM

Xinhua, August 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

Britain's four police forces have been investigating separate claims of historical child sexual abuse involving former Prime Minister Edward Heath, British police have said.

The country's Metropolitan Police and the police branches in Wiltshire, Kent and Jersey have confirmed they are all conducting investigations involving the late politician over separate allegations of child sexual abuse committed decades ago.

The first claim of child abuse against the former prime minister emerged Monday when British police watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) announced it would investigate allegations concerning the local police's handling of a claim in Wiltshire.

Heath was named in an alleged claim of historical child sexual abuse made in the 1990s, but the allegation was allegedly not pursued by Wiltshire Police at that time, according to the IPCC.

Wiltshire Police said Tuesday it has received a number of calls following appeals on Monday urging the public to help provide relevant information.

In a statement, Jersey Police also said that "Heath does feature as part of Operation Whistle, currently investigating historical allegations of abuse in Jersey."

Jersey Police noted that the alleged abuses involve 13 "people of public prominence," with many claims focused on the Haut de la Garenne children's home on the island.

Kent Police confirmed that it has received a report of sexual offense, which named Heath in connection with the allegation.

"Detectives are making initial enquiries, and will obtain a full account from the victim," Kent Police said in a statement, adding that the report would be notified as part of Operation Hydrant, Britain's nationwide investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse.

The Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation, which has been running Heath's former residence at Arundells in Salisbury of Wiltshire, said it believed in the former prime minister's innocence.

"We welcome the investigation by Wiltshire Police, which we wholeheartedly believe will clear Sir Edward's name and we will co-operate fully with the police in their inquiries," the foundation said in a statement.

Heath, born in 1916, served as British prime minister from 1970 to 1974. He was known for taking Britain into the European Economic Community, which subsequently became today's European Union.

He was also a renowned musician, experienced yachtsman and long-serving member of the Parliament. Endit