The Metropolitan Police should be investigated for keeping Andrew Rosindell on bail for almost two years only to then clear him, former Tory MP Harvey Proctor has told the Romford Recorder.
Police announced on Monday (February 12) that Romford MP Mr Rosindell would face no action after a four-year investigation into alleged historic sex offences.
Mr Proctor, who was falsely accused of murdering children by fantasist Carl Beach, said Mr Rosindell had been subjected to a “constitutional monstrosity”.
Meanwhile, London Assembly member Keith Prince appeared on ITV News this week to accuse the Met Police of “incompetence” in Mr Rosindell’s case.
“It has been a terrible hex on Andrew’s life and I’m glad he has now been exonerated – but I’m very annoyed about the time that this investigation has taken,” said Mr Prince.
Police received allegations in January 2020 that Mr Rosindell had committed sexual offences in London between 2002 and 2009.
He was arrested on May 17, 2022, on suspicion of rape, sexual assault, indecent assault, abuse of a position of trust and misconduct in a public office.
He was then kept on police bail for just less than 21 months, before being told he would face no action.
“For the person involved, it’s a dreadful experience,” said Mr Proctor. “Therefore, that upset and turmoil should be kept to the shortest possible time.”
That should especially be the case if the person is an elected representative, he added, as Mr Rosindell was prevented from attending the House of Commons to speak, ask questions or vote for almost two years.
He said this “constitutional monstrosity” was like asking an MP to do their job “with one hand tied behind your back”.
“I do not believe the police in this case were acting expeditiously,” said Mr Proctor.
“I have asked the commissioner to conduct an investigation urgently into why this took so long.
“I think it should be investigated by Sir Mark (Rowley, Met commissioner). If, in the course of his preliminary investigations, he sees wrongdoing, I expect police officers to face disciplinary hearings.”
Havering and Redbridge assembly member Mr Prince said: “I raised the matter of how long it was taking directly with the Met Police commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, on three occasions.
“At no time did I try to influence the commissioner or the outcome of the case, but I did ask the commissioner to ask his team to get a move on, and I raised concerns that not enough resources were being allocated.
“As he is an MP, they should have given this case priority. I’m not saying MPs should get special treatment. But he is an elected representative for 70,000-odd people, and that does warrant special treatment.
“So 70,000-odd people have not had proper representation as a result of the Metropolitan Police’s slothfulness.
“It’s worth noting that the police didn’t even pass the case on to the CPS. They made the decision themselves not to proceed. That clearly indicates to me that they had no evidence.”
Mr Prince has also called for changes to how decisions on bail extensions are made.
After his May 2022 arrest, Mr Rosindell was bailed for one month.
His bail was then extended six times: to August 2022; November 2022; February 2023; May 2023; August 2023; and finally February 2024.
Police can currently keep somebody on bail for four months, but then have to seek permission from a magistrates’ court.
Mr Prince feels a higher authority should be needed.
“They (magistrates) are likely to just extend a person’s bail whenever the police ask them to. I think it should go before a judge.”
Mr Rosindell’s office declined to comment, but said on February 29 that he had been “completely exonerated”.
The Met Police said: “We understand the time taken to complete an investigation can seem lengthy and that this can cause added distress to all involved.
“We always work to conduct our enquiries as efficiently as possible and aim to keep everyone updated as investigations progress, as well as providing specialist support where appropriate.”
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