Sir Cliff set to sue BBC over 'immeasurable harm' of police raid coverage
SIR Cliff Richard may sue the BBC over its TV coverage of the police raid on his home, it has been revealed.
It is understood that the pop legend plans to seek damages for breach of privacy if he is not charged over an allegation of historic sexual abuse. He is also reportedly considering legal action against South Yorkshire Police.
The BBC was first to reveal a raid on Sir Cliff's £3.5million flat in Sunninghill, Berkshire, in August. The corporation faced criticism from lawyers and politicians after reporters broadcast live from the scene and a BBC helicopter hovered overhead as officers searched the property for five hours.
Cliff Richard's house is searched
We were placed in a very difficult position because of the original leak and the BBC came to us knowing everything we knew
Sir Cliff's lawyer Gideon Benaim denounced the "premature and disproportionate" reporting which he said caused the singer "immeasurable harm". The operation was launched after a man, now in his 40s, told police last year he was molested by the pop star during a Christian rally in Sheffield in 1985 when he was under 16. Sir Cliff, 73, denies the allegation. Since the raid South Yorkshire Police and the BBC have been engaged in a dispute. The force says editors put it in "a very difficult" position.
Chief Constable David Crompton told the Home Affairs Select Committee in September his colleagues in the media office were convinced the broadcaster would run a story about the investigation without some kind of deal.
He said: "We were placed in a very difficult position because of the original leak and the BBC came to us knowing everything we knew, as far as the investigation was concerned. My concern was that if we showed the BBC the door, the very clear impression was that they were likely to publish the story."
