Heath paedophile investigation plunged into further chaos as detective in charge goes off with stress

[Stinky Fingers]

The Sir Edward Heath sex abuse investigation has been plunged
into further chaos after the senior detective in charge was
signed off work with stress.

Superintendent Sean Memory went on long term sick leave last
month, just weeks after being put in overall charge of Operation
Conifer - the £800,000 probe into allegations that the late
former Prime Minister was a paedophile.

Sources said Mr Memory's decision to take time off with stress
was the result of "combination of factors" but said it had
followed a period of intense pressure.

The Telegraph has also discovered that Mr Memory is facing a
disciplinary investigation, although it is understood it is not
connected with his work on Operation Conifer.?

A source close to the investigation said his sudden departure
had further undermined the probe, which has been riven with
controversy since it was launched in August 2015.

He said: "With Sean going off, it is not clear where this leaves
Conifer. It has just been one problem after another. There have
been negative headlines at every turn and it is not as if the
force doesn't have other crime fighting problems to deal with."

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: “We can confirm that Supt
Sean Memory is off work through sickness. Personal sickness
absence is an issue that we would not comment upon further, due
to the fact that it is a private matter between employee and
employer.

“Likewise we can confirm that Supt Sean Memory is currently
under investigation for misconduct."

The spokesman said while they would not comment on the nature of
the misconduct investigation, it was not related to Operation
Conifer or his work as a Senior Investigation Officer.

The spokesman added that the misconduct investigation was not a
matter that would warrant Mr Memory's suspension from the force.

Mr Memory, who was Wiltshire's Head of Crime, came in for
criticism at the outset of Operation Conifer, when he appeared
on television outside Sir Edward's former Salisbury home,
Arundells, appealing for "victims" of the late Prime Minister to
come forward.

The appeal came after a retired police officer came forward with
allegations that a 1992 trial featuring a brothel keeper had
been dropped at the last minute when she threatened to expose
Sir Edward as one of her clients.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) launched a
probe into the claims, but it was subsequently established that
the trial had actually been dropped because two of the
prosecution witnesses refused to give evidence.

Despite the cover up claims being debunked, Wiltshire Police,
under the leadership of Chief Constable, Mike Veale, ploughed on
with the sex abuse investigation.

But in his television appeal at the time Mr Memory said: "What
is important to me, is are there victims of sexual abuse from
Sir Ted Heath, or witnesses and if so I would ask them to come
forward today. I would actively encourage people to come forward
and trust us."

Wiltshire Police assigned a team of 21 police officers and staff
to the investigation to dig for any evidence of wrongdoing,
despite the fact the former Prime Minister has been died in
2005, aged 89.

In December, amid mounting criticism over the cost and progress
of the inquiry, Chief Constable Mike Veale issued a robust
defence, insisting that he was "duty bound" to investigate any
allegations made.

Mr Veale denied it was a "witch-hunt", and said he would publish
a report into the matter later this year.

But he has also admitted that the findings may never be made
public as much of the information gathered during the
investigation will have to remain confidential.

Last week reports suggested that Mr Veale was "120 per cent"
convinced of the guilt of Sir Edward.

There have been mounting calls for the investigation to be
closed down, but a spokesman insisted the force remained
satisfied with its progress, despite the departure of Mr Memory.

The spokesman said: “It is very important that we stress there
is no risk to Operation Conifer due to this set of
circumstances. To ensure continuity in this complex
investigation, it continues to be overseen by Assistant Chief
Constable Paul Mills and has been, and will continue to be,
subject to regular scrutiny through a Gold Group meeting
structure which reviews actions and activity.

"The Force has every confidence in how the investigation has
been conducted to date. Supt Steve Kirby (an experienced
investigator who has worked on this case from the outset) has
been appointed as SIO for Operation Conifer.

“The experienced and highly skilled investigation team will
continue to investigate fairly, objectively and proportionately,
without fear or favour, seeking to provide the public with
confidence in the police response.

“The proportionality and justification for the investigation
remains under constant review, assisted by an external scrutiny
panel. It has also been subject of an independent review by
Operation Hydrant.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/26/heath-paedophile-
investigation-plunged-chaos-detective-charge/