Letter from Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, to the Chair of the Committee, 24 March 2014

Thank you for your letter dated 11 March 2014, received by email and in hard copy regarding a number of current investigations.

I am able to provide the following information in relation to Operations Weeting, Pinetree, Tuleta, Herne, Elveden, Kalmyk, Yewtree, Alice, Fernbridge and Fairbank.

Question 1 - the number of officers and staff currently working on the Operations

You will note that Operation Pinetree is being conducted as part of Operation Weeting and likewise Operation Kalmyk, as part of Operation Tuleta and Operation Fernbridge as part of Op Fairbank. As a consequence, collective figures are provided for these respective operations.

Staffing levels are being reviewed at the end of the current (Brooks/Coulson) trial. The exact number of staff for 2014/15 is yet to be ratified, but it is currently proposed that total numbers will be reduced from 174 to 130.

In relation to Operation Yewtree it should be noted that the team also have responsibility for other serious and complex investigations.

Question 2 - The timetable for completion of the Operation

Weeting (Pinetree)/Elveden/Tuleta (Kalmyk)

It is difficult to give an accurate prediction as to the time table for completion as there are, at present a number of unknown variables. However nine trials have been listed (across the three operations) up until November 2014. A further 56 suspects are either currently being investigated by police or have had full files submitted to the CPS for charging decisions. New evidence is still being uncovered by police and without prejudging CPS charging decisions it is extremely likely that further prosecutions will be brought and those trials will be listed well into 2015.

Alice

The final misconduct hearing will commence on 20th May 2014.

Yewtree

Estimated at approximately 12 months, depending on current live investigations.

Fairbank (Fernbridge)

A further 9-12 months to include the criminal justice process.

Herne

The timetable for completion is 12-18 months but this may be extended.

Question 3 - The cost of the Operations to date

Weeting (Pinetree)/Elveden/Tuleta (Kalmyk)

The cost to date of Operation Weeting (Pinetree) is £16.9 million, Operation Elveden is £9.2 million and Operation Tuleta (Kalmyk) £2.5 million, making a total of £28.6 million.

Alice

The cost as of 28th February 2014 is £271,460.

Yewtree

The total cost to date is £3.75 million.

Fairbank (Fernbridge)

The total cost to date is £720,000.

Herne

The total cost to date is £3.15 million.

Question 4 - The projected cost of the Operations by completion

Weeting (Pinetree)/Elveden/Tuleta (Kalmyk)

We are currently in the process of agreeing the budgets for the 2014/15 financial year and as such can not provide accurate projected costs at this point in time. As soon as figures become available they can be provided.

Alice

The cost at the completion of this Operation is expected to be £300,000.

Yewtree

It is difficult to give an estimated projected cost at this stage given the complex nature of the investigation.

Fairbank (Fernbridge)

As there are several live strands to the operation this is difficult to estimate.

Herne

The projected cost of this operation is £5 million but this may change if the length of the investigation is extended.

Question 5 - The number of people arrested and charged as part of each operation

Question 6 - The number of agency workers supporting each Operation

Question 7 - the number of visits abroad made by each Operation, including the purpose, location, the number of officers involved and the amount each visit cost

Weeting (Pinetree)/Elveden/Tuleta (Kalmyk)

There has only been one visit abroad and this was in relation to Operation Tuleta. The purpose of the visit was to gather evidence at the request of the CPS, at a cost of £5,458.

Op Alice

No staff has made any visit abroad in relation to this Operation.

Op Yewtree

These are details I am unable to disclose at this stage whilst these operations remain ongoing as to do so may compromise and frustrate the overall purpose of our investigations. I would be happy to disclose these at a future date.

Fairbank (Fernbridge)

These are details I am unable to disclose at this stage whilst these operations remain ongoing as to do so may compromise and frustrate the overall purpose of our investigations. I would be happy to disclose these at a future date.

Herne

No staff have made any visit abroad in relation to this Operation.

You also requested information in relation to Operation Onthona and Tiberius.

Operation Onthona

This operation commenced in May 1994 for three years. The projected three year budget was £7.82 million, unfortunately there is no further financial information available for the period beyond 1997.

This operation was led by the Operational Head with an Intelligence cell consisting of 26 members of staff and a Surveillance cell consisting of 10 members of staff.

Operation Tiberius

Operation Tiberius commenced in October 2001 and was an intelligence gathering operation to identify corruption threats against the MPS. This operation was overseen by a Deputy Assistant Commissioner, who was nominated as Gold Commander. The team consisted of 8 Police Officers shown as a Detective Superintendent, Detective Sergeants and Detective Constables, plus one member of police staff.

The exact costs or the duration of the work were not recorded. Tiberius reported its findings in March 2002.

I trust that you will find this information helpful.

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Metropolitan Police Commissioner

March 2014