
BBC criticism
Police officers have been warned they could face disciplinary action over their dealings with the BBC before the highly public, five-hour search of Sir Cliff Richard’s penthouse flat following an allegation of historic child abuse.
The corporation has come under fire from politicians, senior police and one of its most-popular former journalists, Sir Michael Parkinson, after it broke the story of the investigation into the 73-year-old singer, who is reportedly preparing to return from holiday in Portugal to face police questioning over the matter.
The College of Policing – which has drawn up an ethical code for officers – said South Yorkshire police and the BBC had to explain the circumstances of how the corporation was made aware of the search.
“If the information was an unauthorised disclosure from within policing then it would be contrary to the Code of Ethics and the person concerned should be held to account,” Chief Constable Alex Marshall, the college’s chief executive, said.
A BBC spokeswoman said: “The BBC agreed to follow normal journalistic practice and not to publish a story that might jeopardise a police inquiry.”
What police have said
On Saturday, South Yorkshire Police said in a statement that "at no point in this investigation" have they leaked information, adding: "This has been confirmed publicly by the BBC."
The force was contacted some weeks ago by a BBC reporter who made it clear he knew of the existence of an investigation. It was clear he [was] in a position to publish it.
The force was reluctant to cooperate but felt that to do otherwise would risk losing any potential evidence, so in the interests of the investigation it was agreed that the reporter would be notified of the date of the house search in return for delaying publication of any of the facts.
Contrary to media reports, this decision was not taken in order to maximise publicity, it was taken to preserve any potential evidence.
- South Yorkshire Police