MP’s Sexual Assault Investigation Moved From Met Police Due to ‘Misogyny’ Fears
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An investigation into an allegation of serious sexual assault against MP Julian Knight was moved from the Metropolitan Police to a local force because the complainant believed it was “institutionally misogynistic” and “could not be trusted” to prosecute a serving Westminster politician, Byline Times can reveal.
This newspaper has seen emails detailing how the case was transferred to Essex Police in May following high-level discussions between the Conservative Chief Whip Simon Hart and Scotland Yard, after Knight’s alleged victim expressed her dissatisfaction with the Met to Hart.
The woman’s decision was further motivated by the Casey Review, which found the Met to be “institutionally misogynistic” and revealed that it could be employing more officers like Wayne Couzens – the Westminster-based armed officer who was jailed for life for the 2021 murder of Sarah Everard.
It has also emerged that Essex Police is now looking into multiple serious sexual offence allegations against former select committee chair Knight, who was interviewed by its officers for several hours.
A source close to the case told Byline Times: “The complainant thought her allegations against Julian were not being taken seriously by The Met. She felt officers assigned to the case were not competent and didn’t appear to know what they were doing.
“Given the Met had an armed Metropolitan Police officer working around Parliament who went on to kill a woman, and the Casey report said there might be others, she didn’t think it could be trusted to investigate her allegations.
“It is another example of how, yet again, the Metropolitan Police has let itself down and, more importantly, let down the women it’s meant to serve.”
Nazir Afzal, former Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England, said moving the case was unprecedented.
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“It’s not uncommon for another police force to investigate allegations where there may be potential conflicts of interest or perceptions of bias because one of the suspects, alleged victims, or witnesses has some significant connection with the exporting force," he said. “But I can’t recall a situation where a case has been transferred because the culture has been misogynistic. What confidence does that give the thousands of other alleged victims whose cases haven’t been moved?”
Caroline Russell, leader of the Green Party in the London Assembly, said it was a “grim situation” when women don’t trust the Met to investigate serious sexual assault claims against politicians. “It shows just how much work is needed to rebuild the trust and confidence of Londoners in our police service,” she added.
Patsy Stevenson, who was awarded compensation from the Met over her treatment following a vigil for Sarah Everard, said she is "not surprised that women do not trust the Met" but that she is "scared because now there is nowhere to turn when things like this happen".
“Right now, I can’t see a way forward for the Met – apart from completely starting from scratch or defunding the police to put money into organisations that actually help,” she added.
'More Supportive and Communicative'
The Met confirmed last December that it was conducting an investigation into a single allegation of serious sexual assault against Julian Knight, then Conservative MP for Solihull, and the chair of the House of Commons’ Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
Knight had the party whip withdrawn after the inquiry was launched, but insisted he is “entirely innocent of any wrongdoing whatsoever” and branded the move “wrong and unjustified”.
The force then announced in late March that it was "no longer proceeding with an investigation".
With the Conservative Party refusing to reinstate the whip, the following month Knight announced he would be resigning from the committee, and would not be standing as an MP in the next election.
Six days later, the BBC reported that four women had made complaints to parliamentary authorities about Knight since police dropped the investigation into him. It reported that the complaints are “thought to allege inappropriate comments and behaviour”.
In a statement, Knight said: "I am fully aware of the circumstances of the single complaint made against me to the Metropolitan Police and the motivations of those involved in making it. This baseless complaint was dismissed by the police without their even feeling the need to interview me, which they never did.
"I have not been made aware of any details of allegations supposedly made subsequently against me to any parliamentary authorities. Nor am I the subject of any investigation by Parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme. Should I become the subject of any such investigation, I will fully and publicly defend myself against any allegations.
"Meanwhile, it is deplorable that, despite the police decision, I remain the subject of what appears to be a smear campaign conducted through leaks, false innuendo and briefings."
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In May, the case was then handed over to Essex Police, which confirmed it was investigating a single allegation of serious sexual assault. It was not clear at the time why the case was referred. But Byline Times has learned that the complainant expressed her concerns about the Met to Conservative Chief Whip, Simon Hart.
He is understood to have personally intervened by making an appeal to high-ranking Scotland Yard officials that the case be referred elsewhere.
While a spokesman for Hart declined to comment while the investigation was ongoing, a source said: “It’s fair to say that Simon’s actions saved the complainant from pulling out and the case collapsing altogether. The case was transferred to a really well thought of department of Essex Police, which is led by someone who is highly-experienced in this area of investigating. Since the move, there is a feeling that Essex Police has been far more supportive and communicative.”
Essex Police confirmed to this newspaper that it is currently investigating multiple allegations against Knight. A spokesman said: “A man has been voluntarily interviewed in connection with an investigation into allegations of serious sexual assault. The investigation relates to alleged incidents outside of Essex which are non-recent. Our investigation is ongoing.”
The Metropolitan Police and Julian Knight MP were contacted for comment.