article_snippet: The 14 alleged cover-ups were referred to watchdogs by the Metropolitan Police Service itself yesterday.
article_snippet: the Metropolitan Police Service itself threatens to be the biggest investigation into police corruption since the 1970s.
article_snippet: Those on the inquiry, known as Operation Fairbank, are understood to have raised concerns after studying files kept in storage.
article_snippet: One senior figure under the spotlight is former Tory home secretary William Whitelaw, who is accused of demanding that police drop an inquiry into a paedophile ring.
article_snippet: The politician, one of Margaret Thatcher’s closest allies, is suspected of quashing a year-long investigation into a gang accused of abusing 40 children.
article_snippet: One inquiry is examining allegations that Special Branch seized a dossier naming 16 MPs and peers handed to an investigative journalist by a former Labour minister.
article_snippet: The IPCC is still considering two further cases, including the shadowy murder of eight-year-old Vishal Mehrotra in July 1981.
article_snippet: Sarah Green, of The IPCC, said police and Sarah Green officials were examining claims that evidence was suppressed, investigations were hindered and halted and offences covered up.
article_snippet: These allegations are of historic, high level corruption of the most serious nature,’ Sarah Green said.
article_snippet: Allegations of this nature are of grave concern and I would like to reassure people of our absolute commitment to ensuring that the investigations are thorough and robust.
article_snippet: Defending the decision to ‘manage’ the Met inquiry, rather than undertake an independent one, Sarah Green said: ‘The new criminal investigations looking at alleged police corruption are closely linked and well under way.
article_snippet: Mrs Green said the decision remained under review and could be changed if new evidence came to light.