A public outcry against the sleazy treatment of Cliff Richard, by both the police, the BBC, and whatever 'informant' was involved in leaking details of the police raid to the BBC has resulted in hundreds of complaints being received by the BBC regarding their presence at a police investigation at Cliff's Berkshire residence, while he was in Portugal. Cliff has called the accusations made against him "completely false."
Accordingly, Home Affairs Select Committee Chairman, Keith Vaz, has called on the BBC to explain how and why they were notified of the raid on Cliff's Sunningdale residence in advance.
There's a blizzard of bluster going on, of course, fingers pointing here, there and everywhere, with the South Yorkshire Police stating that they were basically blackmailed into providing the information about the raid to a "BBC reporter." Additionally, Chief Constable David Crompton, in his letter to Mr. Vaz, accuses the BBC of a "cover up."
The BBC responded that the media has a right to report stories that are in the public interest. Er - so the laws of the land apparently have no effect on a pack of press hounds in hot pursuit of a person who has not been charged with anything whatsoever? Because a 'victim' comes forward with a story that has yet to stand the test of a trier-of-fact, now 'they must be believed.' I think it high time this inappropriate circus stopped. You can't go making wild accusations any longer folks, or if you do, it'll be an entirely private matter between the authorities, the accused, and the accuser. It is NOT the business of the public until charges are brought.
In the meantime, Cliff remains on his summer holiday in Portugal, is happy to cooperate with any investigation, but nobody appears to have shown up, nor is he required to return to England for any reason.
On Thursday, August 28, 2014, BBC Director General Tony Hall, and Chief Constable David Crompton of the South Yorkshire Police will appear before the Committee to answer serious questions about police procedures and the role of the media.
MPs to quiz BBC and police bosses over Cliff Richard raid.
And about time.
UPDATE: On Saturday, August 23, 2014, without fanfare and screeches from the media, Cliff Richard flew into the UK and met with the police in Yorkshire, then flew back to the Algarve to host a dinner gathering. He was all smiles and in good spirits. He continues to deny the accusations, and he was not charged with anything.
Cliff flies to the UK for interview with police.