Commenting on Operation Conifer, Wiltshire Police’s investigation into allegations of child abuse by former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath, Gabrielle Shaw, NAPAC’s CEO and Peter Saunders, NAPAC’s Founder said:
“Far too often in the past, allegations of child abuse against people of public prominence, such as celebrities, politicians, sporting figures, priests or other figures of high standing, were dismissed out of hand, without any proper scrutiny of the claims.
“It was right for Wiltshire Police to carry out a thorough and proportionate investigation into allegations of child abuse by former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath. Wiltshire Police have examined the evidence carefully and made the judgement that six of these claims would have met the threshold for Heath to have been interviewed under caution, had he been alive today.
“This is a highly unusual case, but it shows that the police are willing to investigate without fear or favour, and adults who were abused in childhood should feel confident about going to the police, if this is what they wish to do.”
Find out more about reporting non recent abuse to the police, read Operation Hydrant’s factsheet