Barnes, the leafy suburb of SW London where the activities were alleged to have taken place. Photograph by Henry Lawford
A wide ranging investigation has been launched into allegations made by Labour MP Tom Watson among others, that politicians belonging to a paedophile networks in the 1980s evaded justice due to their status and powerful connections.
The investigation, dubbed Operation Fernbridge, will centre around the alleged activities that occurred at the Elm Guest House, in Barnes – a leafy suburb of south-west London.
Tom Watson made the allegations in the House of Commons in October, at a time when there was much talk about paedophilia in politics with the unfounded BBC Newsnight allegations against Lord McAlpine.
In a short statement, the Metropolitan Police announced the new investigation yesterday, saying:
The Metropolitan Police Service have today, Thursday 17 January, launched an investigation, Operation Fernbridge, into historic allegations of child abuse in the early 1980s at the Elm Guest House, Rocks Lane, Barnes, London.
The investigation will be led by the Child Abuse Investigation Command. Anyone with information is asked to contact officers on 020 7161 0500.
The police also said that they would not be providing commentary as the investigation unfolds, and stressed that the allegations taht were the basis for the investigation were historic and the current occupants of the property are in no way involved.
