30th July 2025
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Sussex Police is leading an investigation into two witnesses suspected of providing false accounts during the “Operation Midland” probe triggered by Carl Beech’s fabricated claims.
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) – which in 2014 investigated Beech’s allegations of sexual abuse and murder involving senior politicians, intelligence officers and military figures – has asked Sussex Police to assess whether the two witnesses should be prosecuted for allegedly perverting the course of justice.
A MPS spokesperson said: “Acknowledging that in light of our previous involvement the Met would not be the most appropriate force to carry out this investigation, we identified an external force to take the matter forward.
“We have since agreed terms of reference with Sussex Police and their investigation is underway.”
Sussex Police confirmed: “Enquiries are ongoing under an established command structure, with the investigation led by a senior investigating officer.”
Operation Midland ended in 2016 after a two-year £2.5m investigation. No action was taken against any of the living public figures falsely accused by Beech. In the early stages of the probe, a senior detective described Beech’s claims as “credible and true” – a statement the Met later apologised for.
During the investigation, two individuals – known as Witness A and Witness B – gave statements that appeared to support Beech’s claims.
However, an independent review by former judge Sir Richard Henriques in 2016 concluded the two witnesses may have given false accounts and recommended that another force assess whether charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice should be considered.
In 2023, West Midlands Police carried out a further review, concluding there were “reasonable grounds” to suspect that Witnesses A and B had perverted the course of justice.
Following recent enquiries by this website, both the Met and Sussex Police confirmed that an investigation into the matter is underway.
A spokesperson for Sussex Police said the force is “conducting a thorough, independent investigation on behalf of the MPS into offences of perverting the course of justice”.
The statement added: “It is right that the approach to this complex investigation is forensic and meticulous. As such, our enquiries may be ongoing for some time while all the facts are gathered, particularly if it should culminate in court proceedings.
“We remain in contact with some of those affected and our support is available to anyone who has not yet been in contact with Sussex Police. We thank all those affected for their patience as we seek the answers they deserve.”
Carl Beech was convicted at Newcastle Crown Court in 2019 of 12 counts of perverting the course of justice, one of fraud, and multiple child sexual offences uncovered when police seized electronic devices from his home. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Full disclosure: As a journalist at the former investigations agency Exaro News between 2012 and 2016, I was among those who – in good faith – met, interviewed and reported on Carl Beech’s allegations. More background on the case can be found here, including why it took so long for police and journalists to unpick Beech’s fabricated claims.
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