Wiltshire police are set to spend a year examining the Edward Heath archive at the Bodleian Library as part of an inquiry into alleged sex abuse claims made against him.
Civilian investigators are being recruited to sift through the private papers of the former Prime Minister in an inquiry that could cost millions.
Wiltshire police are advertising a year-long contract, which could be extended to double that, for four civilian investigators to join the team examining the archives. Successful candidates will be assisting the operation and will need to be a “proven investigator with a demonstrable record in the serious crime arena,” the advert said.
Heath, who studied at Oxford University and was the president of Balliol JCR, went on to lead the Conservative government between 1970 and 1974, and took Britain into what was then the European Economic Community during his time as PM. He died over a decade ago in 2005 at the age of 89.
The Bodleian obtained the private papers, including diaries and personal letters, in 2011. However, it has not had the financial resources to catalogue the 4,500 boxes of material which may lengthen the time-span of the inquiry.
A full-scale investigation into at least seven allegations of abuse by Heath was provoked last year after retired officers claimed that abuse allegations were covered up in 1990s.
Heath was originally associated with Operation Midland, which has failed to find evidence to substantiate one man’s claim of a paedophile ring in Westminster, and which so far has cost Scotland Yard around £2 million.
The material is currently stored in the Bodleian’s book warehouse near Swindon.
Detectives allegedly believe that private papers may reveal witness accounts or evidence that verifies claims.
Heath’s principal private secretary, Lord Armstrong of Ilminster, who had been interviewed by detectives, told The Times that he was sure that the police were “barking up the wrong tree.”
He stated that the allegations he was aware of were “totally tenuous and not credible” and that he couldn’t believe “that it is worth spending a lot of resources in this way to pursue somebody who’s dead”.
Lord Armstrong added, “I very much regret the slur on Edward Heath and I always regret the consumption of public resources on this scale for what seems to be an unnecessary inquiry.”
The Telegraph reported that Mike Veale, chief constable of Wiltshire police, wrote on his February monthly column for the Wiltshire police website that “our resources are under increased pressure and demand”, despite the decision to continue with the inquiry.
Along with analysing the archives, detectives also want to question former political aids, household staff, musicians and guests who spent time at his house in Salisbury.
Various claims have been made against Heath and investigated separately, including the allegation that he abused children on board his yacht, and a case the Independent Police Complaints Commission inquiry is examining, which claims that witnesses to a court case were persuaded to withdraw their planned testimony against a brothel keeper, Myra Forde, in order to stop the exposure of Heath. These claims have so far either been undermined or dropped altogether.
Wiltshire police are yet to respond to Cherwell’s request for comment, although they have previously told The Telegraph that they will not comment on an investigation in progress.
The Bodleian Libraries told Cherwell, “The Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford hold the papers of former Conservative Prime Minister, Sir Edward Heath. The Libraries acquired the Heath archive i n 2011 with the support of the National Heritage Memorial Fund.
“It comprises 4,500 boxes and includes political papers from his time in office, in the shadow cabinet, as well as personal papers and general correspondence. Library archives will always be made available for police investigations on request.”
