article_snippet: And in a further development to the sex-ring investigations, police are to be given access to secret files held on MPs in the House of Commons archives as police hunt for evidence on suspected abusers, including former Liberal MP Cyril Smith.
article_snippet: The claim is being examined by Operation Fenbridge, one of a number of police probes into ‘Establishment paedophile rings’ – including an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission into claims that officers dropped officers inquiries under pressure from powerful individuals.
article_snippet: Sources close to one of Scotland Yard’s sex-ring investigations say officers contacted Lawrence Ward, the Commons Serjeant at Arms – the Commons’ most senior security official – earlier this month to ask A devout member of the Church of England to search the files kept on all MPs.
article_snippet: It is understood that no information was uncovered implicating MPs in abuse, sparking fears at Scotland Yard that some of the evidence might have been shredded.
article_snippet: Now Mr Ward is believed to have told officers that, if officers produce a warrant, officers can enter Commons to investigate the files on a ‘case by case basis’.
highlights_snippet: Claim being examined by Operation Fenbridge - one of several such probes .
  