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Operation Alice was tainted from beginning to end by a "corrupt relationship" between Deborah Glass and the Metropolitan Police
Today I have written to Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service and to Dame Anne Owers, Chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, formally asking that Operation Alice be re-opened.
My reason for doing so is that the "corrupt relationship" between Deborah Glass (and the IPCC) and the Metropolitan Police removes any credibility that Operation Alice might otherwise have had.
The text of my letter to Sir Bernard and Dame Anne is below:
28th November 2014To:Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Commissioner, Metropolitan PoliceDame Anne Owers, Chair, IPCC
Dear Commissioner and Dame Anne,
Request that Operation Alice be re-opened due to the “corrupt relationship” between Deborah Glass and the Metropolitan Police Service
I write to each of you formally to request that the investigation of matters relating to the so-called Plebgate affair be re-opened.
I make that request because for the period from March 2012 until 26th November 2013 Deborah Glass, then Deputy Chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, was subject to investigation by the Metropolitan Police with respect to allegations of perverting the course of justice (CRIS 2314237/12).
Some time ago Sir Bernard promised a “ruthless search for the truth”. I ask that he now delivers on that promise.
The “corrupt relationship”
On 28th March 2012 a complaint was made alleging that Deborah Glass, then Deputy Chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, had perverted the course of justice with respect to a case involving child sexual offences.
The complaint of alleged criminal behaviour by Ms. Glass was made to Inspector Gary Randall of the Metropolitan Police Service.
The Crime Reference Number CRIS2314237/12 was allocated to this matter.
It was not until 26th November 2013 that the complainant was informed that the Metropolitan Police Service investigation into the alleged perversion of the course of justice was complete.
During the period 28th March 2012 until 26th November 2013 Deborah Glass was under investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service for the alleged criminal offence of perverting the course of justice.
During that period Ms. Glass supervised Operation Alice, an investigation into alleged misconduct by Metropolitan Police Service officers.
There is an obvious conflict of interests.
The potential for a corrupt quid pro quo between Ms. Glass (and the IPCC) on the one hand and the Metropolitan Police Service on the other is obvious.
In my view the conduct and the findings of Operation Alice are tainted and invalidated by the “corrupt relationship” that existed between Ms. Glass and the Metropolitan Police Service until around 26th November 2013.
In my opinion the “corrupt relationship” between Ms. Glass and the Metropolitan Police Service has resulted in both the concealment of corrupt behaviour by a number of Police officers, including officials of the Police Federation, and has also resulted in a grave injustice being perpetrated on Andrew Mitchell MP.
Your past knowledge of the “corrupt relationship”
In my view you each knew of the existence of the “corrupt relationship” between Deborah Glass and the Metropolitan Police Service.
Be that as it may, I see no reason why such suspected past knowledge should remove from either of you a duty properly to investigate this serious matter of suspected corrupt behaviour by Ms. Glass in an important public office and its effects on the integrity and credibility of Operation Alice.
Distribution
This letter is a public document.
I will place a copy of the letter on my Plebgate blog located here:
I am copying this letter to Rachel Cerfontyne and Sarah Green, Deputy Chairs of the Independent Police Complaints Commission for their urgent assessment and action.
Actions requested of you
I request of Sir Bernard, Dame Anne, Ms Cerfontyne and Ms Green that they each carefully assess whether or not it is the case that Ms. Glass was, during the period 28th March 2012 until 26th November 2013, subject to allegations that she had perverted the course of justice with respect to a case which relates to alleged child sexual offences.
I further ask that each carefully considers whether Ms. Glass had a duty to recuse herself from any involvement in assessing misconduct by Metropolitan Police Service officers, given that she was under criminal investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
I further ask that Sir Bernard carefully considers whether Commander Allan Gibson, then head of the Directorate of Professional Standards of the Metropolitan Police Service, had a duty to ask another Police force to investigate matters in relation to the allegations of perverting the course of justice by Ms. Glass.
I further ask that each principal and copy recipient carefully considers whether, in these circumstances, it is necessary to re-open Operation Alice.
For the avodance of doubt my view is that there is, at a minimum, the appearance of corrupt behaviour by Ms. Glass and Metropolitan Police Service officers (including Commmander Allan Gibson, formerly head of the Directorate of Professional Standards).
The conduct and findings of Operation Alice are therefore, in my view, irredeemably tainted and corrupted.
The effect of the tainting of Operation Alice, in my view, is to conceal gross misconduct and/or criminal behaviour by a number of Police officers including officials of the Police Federation.
In the first instance, I would be grateful for an early acknowledgement of receipt of this letter.
I look forward to your early responses and action on this important matter.
Yours sincerely
(Dr) Andrew Watt
CcRachel Cerfontyne, IPCCSarah Green, IPCC
I admire your hard work and determination. I will follow this with interest.
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