Day 3 of Janner hearings of #CSAinquiry behind closed doors ALL DAY: three Leicestershire officers who were on first police probe into Labour MP Greville Janner in 1991 as part of Frank Beck case... DCI Kelvyn Ashby, Ch Supt Graham Carr, Det Supt Tim Garner.
#SecretCSAinquiry
#SecretCSAinquiry
DCI Kelvyn Ashby was SIO on police probe into Frank Beck, who ran a Leicestershire children’s home.
He investigated allegations against Greville Janner, then a Labour MP, in 1991 as part of that case.
He is giving evidence behind closed doors at #CSAinquiry. #SecretCSAinquiry
He investigated allegations against Greville Janner, then a Labour MP, in 1991 as part of that case.
He is giving evidence behind closed doors at #CSAinquiry. #SecretCSAinquiry
Police in this first probe into Greville Janner passed a file to the CPS, which decided against pressing any charge against the then MP.
Janner was named as an abuser by a witness at Frank Beck’s trial.
Janner denied the claims in Parliament. Many MPs spoke in his support.
Janner was named as an abuser by a witness at Frank Beck’s trial.
Janner denied the claims in Parliament. Many MPs spoke in his support.
Even though much is in the public domain about this first investigation, #CSAinquiry has banned any discussion of it in Janner hearings – even treating the NAME of the police operation as secret.
This is why DCI Kelvyn Ashby is testifying behind closed doors. #SecretCSAinquiry
This is why DCI Kelvyn Ashby is testifying behind closed doors. #SecretCSAinquiry
However, I AM able to tell you what DCI Kelvyn Ashby has to say about the first police probe into Greville Janner MP in 1991.
Notwithstanding this Orwellian attempt by the #CSAinquiry to delete it from history.
And that is because he has spoken about it in PUBLIC…
Notwithstanding this Orwellian attempt by the #CSAinquiry to delete it from history.
And that is because he has spoken about it in PUBLIC…
Lord Janner’s friends often claim that he has consistently denied allegations of child sexual abuse.
This is another re-writing of history. AKA another falsehood.
DCI Kelvyn Ashby revealed that Janner DECLINED to answer questions when interviewed in 1991…
This is another re-writing of history. AKA another falsehood.
DCI Kelvyn Ashby revealed that Janner DECLINED to answer questions when interviewed in 1991…
DCI Kelvyn Ashby, former Leicestershire Police officer, a detective inspector at the time, said that in 1991 Greville Janner, then a Labour MP, repeatedly answered “no comment” when police interviewed him about allegations of child sexual abuse.
DCI Kelvyn Ashby said that after investigating the allegations of child sexual abuse against Greville Janner he and colleagues had wanted to arrest the then Labour MP and search his property.
But they were blocked.
But they were blocked.
DCI Kelvyn Ashby said: “The message came back from above - and I can't say who because I don't know – ‘This man is an MP, you can't arrest him, you have to invite him in for interview.’
“I think that was an honest decision, and was not due to any outside influence.”
“I think that was an honest decision, and was not due to any outside influence.”
DCI Kelvyn Ashby explained that, instead of arresting Greville Janner as police wanted, they were forced merely to arrange to interview the then Labour MP under caution.
"We contacted him, and invited him to a police station in Leicester to answer allegations of child abuse.”
"We contacted him, and invited him to a police station in Leicester to answer allegations of child abuse.”
DCI Kelvyn Ashby said: “We had a long list of questions to ask him [Greville Janner].
“He came with a legal representative and we went through the interview process, which was recorded.
“Every question we asked, he said he was acting on legal advice and wasn’t going to answer.”
“He came with a legal representative and we went through the interview process, which was recorded.
“Every question we asked, he said he was acting on legal advice and wasn’t going to answer.”
DCI Kelvyn Ashby gave this account of the police investigation in 1991 into Greville Janner, including the then Labour MP’s police interview, to the Daily Mirror in 2015.
Despite the attempt today by #SecretCSAinquiry to delete it from history:
mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/g…
Despite the attempt today by #SecretCSAinquiry to delete it from history:
mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/g…
DCI Kelvyn Ashby also spoke about the deference shown towards an MP that led to the block on an arrest of Greville Janner in 1991, saying: “I felt we had enough to arrest him but we didn’t because he was an MP. I think we should have done.”
DCI Kelvyn Ashby said that he had found vital clues in 1991 that backed up claims that Greville Janner, Labour MP, had molested a teenage boy at his marital home and at a hotel in Scotland…
DCI Kelvyn Ashby said : “He gave us an account of Janner’s house, how many rooms it had, and the lay-out of the furniture.
“When we visited, Janner had long since moved, but the house was exactly as the alleged victim said it was. I was in no doubt he had been in that house.”
“When we visited, Janner had long since moved, but the house was exactly as the alleged victim said it was. I was in no doubt he had been in that house.”
DCI Kelvyn Ashby said: “We looked at the Scottish tour and believed him. We established Janner stayed in those hotels but could not prove the boy was with him.
“But we had the note, his testimony, and the fact a boy had been taken out of care to stay in London with an MP.”
“But we had the note, his testimony, and the fact a boy had been taken out of care to stay in London with an MP.”
DCI Kelvyn Ashby said: “It meant we had enough in my eyes.”
He was working on the investigation into Frank Beck, boss of a children’s home, and Greville Janner, Labour MP, with DS Mick Creedon, who went on to become chief constable of Derbyshire Police for 10 years until 2017…
He was working on the investigation into Frank Beck, boss of a children’s home, and Greville Janner, Labour MP, with DS Mick Creedon, who went on to become chief constable of Derbyshire Police for 10 years until 2017…
DCI Kelvyn Ashby said: “Mick and I believed an arrestable offence had been committed and that once we arrested him [Greville Janner, then Labour MP] we could search his house and see if there was any material that helped corroborate what the alleged victim said.”
DCI Kelvyn Ashby said: “Someone higher-up told us that we could’t just arrest an MP, and it went no further.
“We were told that by someone senior, who I can’t name, but the order had to have come from the very top.
“I’m sure my bosses’ hands were tied.”
“We were told that by someone senior, who I can’t name, but the order had to have come from the very top.
“I’m sure my bosses’ hands were tied.”
DCI Kelvyn Ashby said: “I was extremely frustrated. We might have found more in his house, or maybe more victims would have come forward.
“Janner should have been arrested.
“He was treated differently because he was an MP.”
“Janner should have been arrested.
“He was treated differently because he was an MP.”
DCI Kelvyn Ashby reflected on the stalled investigation in 1991 into the MP pal of the paedophile boss of a children’s home: “The bit that really got me was that I later got a Christmas card in the post from Greville Janner...”
DCI Kelvyn Ashby said: “The card was an official House of Commons Christmas card and was hand-written.
“It said something like, ‘I was very pleased with the way you treated me,’ and invited me and my wife for a dinner at the House of Commons. I couldn’t believe it.”
“It said something like, ‘I was very pleased with the way you treated me,’ and invited me and my wife for a dinner at the House of Commons. I couldn’t believe it.”
DCI Kelvyn Ashby said: “My wife was disgusted, as was I. Needless to say, we never replied and never went.
“I’m only speaking now because the police investigation has stalled. Also, I have to think about the victims, and I feel they have been let down.”
“I’m only speaking now because the police investigation has stalled. Also, I have to think about the victims, and I feel they have been let down.”
DCI Kelvyn Ashby gave this account of how police investigation in 1991 into Greville Janner, which sprang out of Frank Beck case, was “stalled” to the Mail on Sunday in 2015:
dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3…
dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3…
Janner hearings of #CSAinquiry have continued – all day – shamefully behind closed doors.
I refused to dignify it by going to the hearings in closed session, enabling me to report on it more fully, unable to draw on disclosures solely in camera. Keep watching. #SecretCSAinquiry
I refused to dignify it by going to the hearings in closed session, enabling me to report on it more fully, unable to draw on disclosures solely in camera. Keep watching. #SecretCSAinquiry
Even though Janner hearings of #CSAinquiry have continued all day today behind closed doors, the inquiry has the cheek to still call it a “public hearing”.
Orwellian style: a public hearing that BARS the public from attending.
Does “farce” cover it?
#SecretCSAinquiry
Orwellian style: a public hearing that BARS the public from attending.
Does “farce” cover it?
#SecretCSAinquiry
Extra 1/4
“Summary” by #CSAinquiry of evidence in closed session today: an unnamed retired officer from Leicestershire Police said that a senior officer instructed him not to arrest Lord Janner b/c he was an MP [and still, despite inquiry’s bowing and scraping, Greville Janner].
“Summary” by #CSAinquiry of evidence in closed session today: an unnamed retired officer from Leicestershire Police said that a senior officer instructed him not to arrest Lord Janner b/c he was an MP [and still, despite inquiry’s bowing and scraping, Greville Janner].
Extra 2/4
Lord Janner should have been arrested, unnamed officer said, as recorded in “summary” of closed evidence by #CSAinquiry.
“A man off the street would have been,” there was “plenty of evidence to do so.”
Lord Janner should have been arrested, unnamed officer said, as recorded in “summary” of closed evidence by #CSAinquiry.
“A man off the street would have been,” there was “plenty of evidence to do so.”
Extra 3/4
Unnamed officer formed the opinion that there was probably something in the allegations against Lord Janner, although he acknowledged that he had become less convinced in the truth of them as investigation progressed, according to woeful “summary” by #CSAinquiry.
Unnamed officer formed the opinion that there was probably something in the allegations against Lord Janner, although he acknowledged that he had become less convinced in the truth of them as investigation progressed, according to woeful “summary” by #CSAinquiry.
Extra 4/4
Unnamed officer said that more enquiries ought to have been pursued in relation to Lord Janner, but he was told by someone, at some stage, to stop enquiries and move on, according to one-page “summary” by #CSAinquiry: iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/…
Unnamed officer said that more enquiries ought to have been pursued in relation to Lord Janner, but he was told by someone, at some stage, to stop enquiries and move on, according to one-page “summary” by #CSAinquiry: iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/…
NB
Bizarre that “summary” by #CSAinquiry of today’s closed evidence does not identify the officer whose testimony it quotes and paraphrases, especially as its own published timetable named only three Leicestershire Police officers who were to be called today. #SecretCSAinquiry
Bizarre that “summary” by #CSAinquiry of today’s closed evidence does not identify the officer whose testimony it quotes and paraphrases, especially as its own published timetable named only three Leicestershire Police officers who were to be called today. #SecretCSAinquiry
Although evidence was due today from only three Leicestershire Police officers, statements from two of them were to be read.
So only one officer spoke at the hearing and could have made those comments above: DCI Kelvyn Ashby, SIO of investigation into Greville Janner in 1991.
So only one officer spoke at the hearing and could have made those comments above: DCI Kelvyn Ashby, SIO of investigation into Greville Janner in 1991.
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