Letter from Gideon Benaim, on behalf of Michael Simkins LLP,
to the Chair of the Committee, 1 September 2014
Home Affairs Committee Inquiry: South Yorkshire Police and the BBC
We act for Sir Cliff Richard.
We have been instructed to respond to your letter dated 26 August 2014 (addressed to BCL Burton Copeland, who continue to be instructed in relation to the investigation).
We trust that you will appreciate that whilst there is an ongoing police investigation, we would not wish our client to become embroiled in the wider issues being considered by the Committee. However, we accept that the issues in question are also important in a broader context and therefore answer your specific questions succinctly as follows:
1) When and how were you informed of the search?
Our client was not informed in advance of the search. Our client first received notice of the search from a representative of the building’s management company, where our client’s apartment is located, who stated that the police were onsite with a search warrant, and, that there were journalists and cameras outside.
2) Did any member of the Police contact you regarding these matters prior to the search and if so, who contacted you, when did they contact you, and which police force do they work for?
No. No contact was made by the police in advance of the search commencing.
3) Were you contacted by any member of the media regarding these matters prior to the search and if so, who were you contacted by, when did they contact you and which organisation did they work for?
No. No contact was made by the media in advance of the search commencing.
4) It has been reported that you purchased the property concerned in 2008, can you confirm this?
Yes. Our client purchased the property in 2008.
As mentioned above, we do not believe it would be appropriate to elaborate further whilst our client is the subject of an ongoing police investigation. Nevertheless, we trust that the information provided above sufficiently answers the questions posed.
Yours sincerely
Gideon Benaim
On behalf of Michael Simkins LLP