Sir Edward Heath child abuse claims investigated by IPCC

The Independent Police Complaint’s Commission (IPCC) has announced a formal inquiry into claims that Wiltshire Police did not properly follow up allegations of child sexual abuse against Sir Edward Heath.

Sir Edward Heath, who was a Conservative prime minister from 1970-1974, died at his home in Salisbury in 2005, aged 89. The child sex abuse allegations were made to the police during the 1990s, and now the IPCC is specifically looking at how the force responded to the allegations.

It comes after a retired senior police officer suggested Wiltshire Police failed to investigate the child sexual abuse claim and a criminal prosecution was not pursued because it may have exposed Sir Edward Heath as having been involved in offences concerning children.

An IPCC spokesman said it is to investigate “allegations concerning Wiltshire Police’s handling of an alleged claim of child sexual abuse made in the 1990s”.

He added: “It is alleged that a criminal prosecution was not pursued, when a person threatened to expose that Sir Edward Heath may have been involved in offences concerning children.

“In addition to this allegation, the IPCC will examine whether Wiltshire Police subsequently took any steps to investigate these claims.”

The IPCC also said the inquiry is linked to wider allegations of historical sex abuse.

(Edward Heath pictured in 1980)

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said they will ensure that “those responsible are held to account” should any evidence show offences have been committed.

“Following the announcement today regarding an independent investigation by the IPCC into allegations concerning how Wiltshire Police handled an alleged claim of child sex abuse made in the 1990’s, we are carrying out enquiries to identify if there are any witnesses or victims who support the allegations of child sex abuse.

“If there is evidence of offences having been committed we will ensure that, if possible, those responsible are held to account through a thorough and detailed investigation. This includes any other parties who are identified as having been involved in child sex abuse.”

The force had informed the IPCC as soon as it learned about the information from the retired officer, adding: “The IPCC investigation will specifically consider how the force responded to allegations when they were received in the 1990s.”

Sir Edward Heath lost his leadership of the party to Margaret Thatcher in 1975, and in his later years he became father of the House of Commons as the MP with the longest continuous service who was not a minister.