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Home » News Centre » Press Releases » CPS advises Metropolitan Police over allegations against senior Customs officials

CPS advises Metropolitan Police over allegations against senior Customs officials

20/12/2005

The Crown Prosecution Service has advised the Metropolitan Police Service over allegations made against four senior Customs officials relating to Mr Justice Butterfield's review of a number of failed HM Customs and Excise cases and a related police investigation.

Following thorough and careful consideration, the CPS has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to charge any individual with any criminal offence and has advised the Metropolitan Police Service of this conclusion.

The allegations concerned non-disclosure of documents to Mr Justice Butterfield's review and a related police investigation. They were made by an individual following publication of Mr Justice Butterfield's report in July 2003.

The Metropolitan Police Service carried out an investigation and subsequently sought the advice of the CPS.

A senior CPS lawyer reviewed the evidence, in consultation with two independent barristers. He looked at the actions of the four officials in relation to information supplied to the enquiry and whether there was any evidence of a deliberate attempt to mislead it, or to obstruct the police investigation.

He considered the offences of perverting the course of public justice, obstruction of the police and misconduct in a public office. He concluded that the police report had provided enough information for him to make a decision; that there was insufficient evidence to charge any individual with a criminal offence and that further work on this matter would not be justified.

  1. Media enquiries to CPS Press Office on 020 7710 6091 or 020 7710 6088.
  2. On 25 November 2002 in the Crown Court at Liverpool a prosecution conducted by then HM Customs and Excise was halted when the prosecution offered no evidence against a number of defendants. This case had been the effective culmination of a number of cases concerning diversion frauds at a bonded warehouse known as the London City Bond.
  3. Following the collapse of the case, on 26 November 2002 the then Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Mr John Healey MP) announced to the House of Commons by way of a written ministerial statement that a review would be held into that matter, as well as looking at other general matters conducted by HM Customs and Excise. The written statement was later followed by an announcement that the review would be conducted by Mr Justice Butterfield. The review duly took place, with the Judge reporting to Parliament, through the Treasury and the Attorney General on 15 July 2003.
  4. Following the publication of the Report, information was received by the Internal Investigations Department of HM Customs and Excise that Mr Justice Butterfield may have been misled because of non-disclosure of documents to his review. These allegations were the subject of an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service team who were already looking at allegations against HM Customs and Exercise staff following the collapse of the above mentioned trial. These investigations are ongoing.