WIREDGOV

An IPCC investigation into Wiltshire Police has found no evidence that a prosecution was not pursued because a defendant threatened to allege publicly that Sir Edward Heath had been involved in sexual offences involving young men.

The investigation stemmed from information from a retired senior officer raising concerns that Wiltshire Police deliberately caused a criminal prosecution to fail in 1994. It was alleged that the defendant had threatened to tell the press she supplied Sir Edward with males under the age of consent for sex if the trial went ahead.

The IPCC examined the circumstances around the outcome of the court case relating to brothel-owner Myra Ling Ling Forde, in February 1994. We investigated whether the comment allegedly made about Sir Edward to a former police officer at court had any bearing on the outcome. We also looked at the actions of Wiltshire Police in connection with the alleged comment.

The investigation found no evidence to support the suggestion that the alleged comment had any bearing on the outcome of the trial against Ms Forde. It also found no evidence that other officers within Wiltshire were aware of the alleged comment and failed to act upon it.

The investigation concluded that the trial against Ms Forde was stopped by the prosecution because their witnesses would not attend court or refused to give evidence.