Former British Prime Minister, Sir Edward Heath, would have been interviewed under caution in relation to allegations of sex offences made against him had he been alive today. The Conservative politician died twelve years ago.

Wiltshire Police, who have been investigating claims spanning a period of 36 years, from 1956 to 1992, stressed that no conclusions about Heath’s innocence or guilt should be drawn from their announcement. They would have wanted to hear his own account of the alleged incidents, they said.

Paul Mills, Assistant Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police, said that:

“In the case of seven individual disclosures, if Sir Edward Heath had been alive today, it has been concluded he would have been interviewed under caution in order to obtain his account in relation to the allegations made against him.”

The claims include allegations of the rape of an 11-year-old boy, and indecent assaults on men and boys, one as young as 10.

h3 European legacy

Sir Edward Heath was Prime Minister between 1970 and 1974 and negotiated the UK’s entry into the European Economic Community, which later became the EU.

He was ousted from Downing Street after a miners’ strike brought down the government. He was never a fan of the next Conservative Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.

“Flawed” investigation?

Supporters of Sir Edward say the investigation has been “flawed from the start”.

His Godson, Lincoln Seligman, said hought the initial appeal for victims would have drawn thousands of allegations. Whilst he did not believe any of those that had been made, he professed to himself pleased that the police had “whittled down” the initial 112 cases to just a handful, adding that a judge-led review would be necessary if any allegations were to be substantiated.

The investigation follows on the heels of a string of high-profile child-abuse scandals, most notably involving former TV presenter, Jimmy Savile.