Investigations into former PM Ted Heath over child abuse allegations

FORMER Prime Minister Ted Heath has been accused of child sex abuse as investigations into other Westminster public figures and politicians alleged to be involved in historical sex abuse continue. A total of five police forces are now separately investigating claims of abuse by the politician.

A Jersey police enquiry, Operation Whistle, which has been examining claims of child abuse, has confirmed that they are investigating the former British prime minister after receiving claims about the politician on the island. In the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal and claims of abuse at a Jersey children’s home, Haut de la Garenne, which Savile is believed to have visited, the island police force set up the operation. Allegations have now been made that Mr Heath would take children from a Jersey care home on trips on his yacht around the island.

Now US Newsweek journalist, Leah Goodman, alleges that she was thrown out the country after trying to investigate reports of the abuse in 2011.

Other allegations were made to the Metropolitan police by a 65-year-old man on Monday August 3, who accused the former prime minister of raping him when he was 12. Wiltshire Police have reported that the force was being investigated for improperly handling an allegation against the politician in the 1990s and say they have subsequently received calls about the claims after setting up a helpline about the incident. However, the allegations were dismissed by Sir Edward’s former private secretary, Lord Armstrong of Ilminster, as “nonsense”. 

Hampshire police have confirmed that they too are investigating allegations into the politician and Kent Police are investigating claims of a sexual assault in the 1960s which named the former prime minister as being involved. Police say they are beginning to make inquiries into these allegations.