Ex-VIP abuse inquiry chief moved off front-line duties

THE police chief who headed the bungled VIP abuse inquiry has been moved from front-line duties after watchdogs opened an investigation into him for gross misconduct.

Steve Rodhouse, the former Met deputy assistant commissioner who headed Operation Midland, is to step aside from his role as director general of operations at the National Crime Agency (NCA).

The announcement by the NCA yesterday came after the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said Mr Rodhouse had a case to answer for gross misconduct. He has been accused of breaching professional standards and making dishonest statements during his handling of the investigation.

He is the first officer to face disciplinary proceedings over Operation Midland, which investigated a series of high-profile figures over false allegations of child abuse.

The move was seen as a victory for some of those who were falsely accused and their loved ones. They have fought tirelessly to have someone in the police held accountable for a litany of catastrophic failings.

The Met Police spent 18 months investigating false claims of rape and abuse made by Carl Beech against high profile figures such Sir Edward Heath, Lord Brittan, the former home secretary, and Lord Bramall, the former head of the army.

Despite raiding the homes of some of those falsely accused, they shut down the operation without having made any arrests.

Beech was jailed for 18 years in July 2019 after being convicted of perverting the course of justice and fraud.

In its statement on Friday, the NCA said: “Having fully considered the IOPC decision, the agency has decided that, in order to protect public confidence in the NCA, Steve Rodhouse will move from the role of director general operations. He will undertake other projects in the agency whilst work continues in relation to the IOPC proceedings. This position will be reviewed when we receive a final determination on this matter.

“Rob Jones has been appointed temporary director general operations. He will lead our operational and investigative work with immediate effect.

Mr Rodhouse retired from the Met in 2018 and took up his £200,000-a-year job with the NCA the same year.