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Police Watchdog To Oversee Cyril Smith Probe

Police Watchdog To Oversee Cyril Smith Probe

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will oversee a probe into claims Greater Manchester Police (GMP) failed to adequately investigate an incident involving the MP Cyril Smith.

The investigation centres around a claim from a former police officer that he found the late Liberal MP and another officer in plain clothes in the Stockport home of a known sex offender with two teenage boys in 1988.

The former officer told the Manchester Evening News that he was threatened with the Official Secrets Act by a senior officer if he said anything about the incident.

He claims he was told to "keep your mouth shut".

Smith was the subject of sex abuse allegations and investigations during his career as a local councillor in Rochdale and then as the town's MP, but he was never prosecuted.

This allegation will form part of GMP's Operation Clifton, an investigation launched in July into the handling of previous reports of child sexual abuse.

In a statement, the IPCC said: "The IPCC will manage how this specific allegation is investigated.

"The IPCC's involvement will ensure independent oversight of the investigation, while ensuring Greater Manchester Police's wider ongoing criminal investigation is not affected."

A total of 23 alleged victims have made complaints against Smith to GMP, with the alleged offences ranging from sexual assault to rape.

The claims relate to his activities between 1960 and 1987 at two schools or hostels for troubled teenage boys in Rochdale, Knowl View and Cambridge House.

Earlier this month, a former detective with GMP told Sky News there was enough evidence to prosecute Smith , who died in 2010, but an order was given to drop the case.

The officer, who did not want to be identified, said he and his colleagues were amazed at how they were closed down when they had the evidence to prosecute him.

Speaking about the investigation earlier this month, GMP Assistant Chief Constable Ian Wiggett said: "We have already interviewed a large number of people and still have numerous enquiries to undertake.

"We are speaking to everyone no matter what status they have held or still hold to get to the truth.

"Greater Manchester Police has no interest in covering up any of these issues."

:: Greater Manchester Police has urged anyone with information to call the incident room on 0161 856 0310, the Police and Crime Commissioner's office or the Independent Police Complaints Commission.