Edward Heath: Five Police Forces Investigating

Five police forces have confirmed they have received allegations of child sex abuse involving the former prime minister Sir Edward Heath.

Police in Jersey, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Kent and London are all investigating allegations involving the former politician.

Late last night, the Hampshire force was the latest to confirm it is looking into allegations made against the former PM.

Earlier, police in Jersey said Sir Edward was being investigated as part of their historical child sex abuse inquiry.

The disclosure followed claims that he would take children from care homes for a ride in his yacht.

Wiltshire Police, meanwhile, disclosed it has received a number of calls to a helpline it set up appealing for potential victims and witnesses.

Kent Police said it had received a report of a sexual assault against Sir Edward in East Kent in the 1960s.

And the Metropolitan Police is looking into accusations by a man, now aged 65. He claims he was raped at the age of 12 by Sir Edward, in Mayfair, London.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "In April 2015 an allegation of rape was made to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

"An officer from Operation Fairbank interviewed the complainant that same month and obtained a full account. Support services were offered.

"However, after a full assessment of the allegation there were no lines of inquiry that could proportionately be pursued by the MPS."

It is also claimed the politician was seen by a Met Police detective going into a north London property where boys were abused in the '70s.

The first allegation against Sir Edward emerged on Monday.

Wiltshire Police disclosed the force was being investigated for failing to handle an apparent allegation made against the politician in the 1990s.

A woman at the centre of the claims has been revealed to be a Filipino prostitute called Myra Ling-Ling Forde - now 67.

According to a retired detective she had been arrested on inciting prostitution charges in the mid 90s but the court case against her was dropped after she threatened to expose Sir Edward as a paedophile.

Lord Armstrong of Ilminster, Sir Edward's former principal private secretary, told Sky News the allegations were "absolute nonsense".

But since then further details of claims have emerged including those on Jersey.

In a statement, Jersey Police said: "Sir Edward Heath does feature as part of Operation Whistle, currently investigating historical allegations of abuse in Jersey."

The force says the allegations of abuse involve 13 "people of public prominence".

Many of the claims centre on the Haut de la Garenne children's home, which closed in 1986.

The home was said to have been "frequented" by Jimmy Savile, who has been accused of abusing youngsters there.

US Newsweek reporter Leah Goodman has claimed she was told of allegations against Sir Edward on Jersey in 2011.

But she says she was then thrown out of the UK for investigating them.

She told Sky News: "(Police officers investigating claims at the children's home) had heard the rumours and I know a few of the senior members of the police believed that (Heath) was at it.

"The yachting culture had long been known for bringing boys and other children out on boats into international waters ... murky legalities ... it was a place where it was understood people couldn't escape.

"I know Edward Heath was involved in the yachting culture on the island."

Sir Edward, PM for four years in the 1970s, is the highest-profile figure to be named in historical abuse allegations against prominent figures.

An independent inquiry has been set up into claims public bodies failed to act or attempted to cover up claims against senior politicians.

The inquiry has been told by David Cameron there are no limits to their investigations and officers should "go as high as they like".

The Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation said: "We welcome the investigation by Wiltshire Police, which we wholeheartedly believe will clear Sir Edward's name and we will co-operate fully with the police in their inquiries."

Sir Edward, who led the Conservative government between 1970 and 1974, never married and kept his private life under wraps.

He died at his home in Salisbury aged 89 in July 2005.

:: The NSPCC helpline for the Edward Heath inquiry is 0808 800 5000.