Cliff Richard: Timeline of South Yorkshire Police's '˜inept' sex abuse probe

SOUTH Yorkshire Police has 'apologised wholeheartedly' for its handling of its raid on the home of Sir Cliff Richard, in a bungled probe over historic sex abuse claims.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Jun 2016, 11:42 GMT
Updated 16th Jun 2016, 12:43 GMT
Bachelor Boy: Cliff Richard in the 1960sBachelor Boy: Cliff Richard in the 1960s
Bachelor Boy: Cliff Richard in the 1960s

Today it was congfirmed, after two years and an £800,000 inquiry, that no further action would be taken against Sir Cliff.

Here is a timeline of the police investigation, which began 672 days ago.

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Hillsborough, Rotherham, Cliff Richard and the Rhino Whip Affair: Five police scandals in South Yorkshire

Sir Cliff Richard is to face no further action following the South Yorkshire Police investigation into allegations of historical sexual abuse, it has been announced.Sir Cliff Richard is to face no further action following the South Yorkshire Police investigation into allegations of historical sexual abuse, it has been announced.
Sir Cliff Richard is to face no further action following the South Yorkshire Police investigation into allegations of historical sexual abuse, it has been announced.

Cliff ‘won’t return’ to home raided by Yorkshire police

2014

• August 14 - Sir Cliff’s property in Sunningdale, Berkshire, is raided by South Yorkshire Police following an allegation of a sex crime involving a young boy in the 1980s. The police’s handling of the raid attracts criticism after the BBC was apparently tipped off that the search was to take place.

• August 23 - Detectives investigating the allegation against Sir Cliff interview the pop singer, who attends the meeting voluntarily and is not arrested or charged.

Charters Estate in Sunningdale, Berkshire, where Sir Cliff Richard has an apartmentCharters Estate in Sunningdale, Berkshire, where Sir Cliff Richard has an apartment
Charters Estate in Sunningdale, Berkshire, where Sir Cliff Richard has an apartment

• October 24 - A group of MPs brand South Yorkshire Police’s handling of the raid on Sir Cliff’s home “inept”.

2015

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• February 25 - South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable David Crompton reveals in a letter to Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, that the investigation into the veteran singer has “increased significantly in size” and “involves more than one allegation”.

• February 27 - Sir Cliff’s lawyers write to the Home Affairs Committee complaining about the decision to publicise the letter, saying it has exposed him to “a further round of unnecessary and extremely damaging media coverage with no due process”.

Sir Cliff Richard is to face no further action following the South Yorkshire Police investigation into allegations of historical sexual abuse, it has been announced.Sir Cliff Richard is to face no further action following the South Yorkshire Police investigation into allegations of historical sexual abuse, it has been announced.
Sir Cliff Richard is to face no further action following the South Yorkshire Police investigation into allegations of historical sexual abuse, it has been announced.

• November 5 - The entertainer is re-interviewed by South Yorkshire Police after meeting officers voluntarily.

2016

• May 10 - A file of evidence relating to allegations of historical sex abuse against Sir Cliff is passed to prosecutors by South Yorkshire Police.

• June 16 - The Crown Prosecution Service announces there is “insufficient evidence to prosecute” Sir Cliff.