More than 1,000 people have been questioned by police investigating claims of historic sex abuse , it was revealed yesterday . The huge number , including suspects , victims and witnesses , lays bare the scale of the task facing detectives . Scotland Yard boss Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe admitted the wave of allegations is consuming a huge amount of resources . But he pledged to get to the heart of the claims , no matter who was involved . Scroll down for video . Homes belonging to Leon Brittan , left , and the former head of the armed forces Lord Bramall , right , have been searched by police investigating child sex allegations , it has emerged . His comments came after it was revealed Met officers raided the homes of Tory grandee Leon Brittan and a former head of the Armed Forces last week . In a series of low-key searches , plain-clothes detectives examined Lord Brittan 's home in Pimlico , central London , and his North Yorkshire country retreat . The rural property , near the picturesque town of Leyburn , is in the Richmond constituency which he once represented as an MP . The searches came just six weeks after the former home secretary died aged 75 , triggering claims he attended VIP sex ring parties . Officers also attended the home of 91-year-old Lord Bramall , chief of defence staff until 1985 . The Second World War hero won the Military Cross for bravery and rose to be Britain 's top-ranking Army officer . The team of police , including at least one in body armour , were seen at his £750,000 stone detached property in Crondall , Hampshire , near the Army town of Aldershot . One onlooker said : 'They were here for most of the day . There were lots of cars in the driveway . I 've no idea why they needed so many – he 's an elderly man . ' The searches took place on the same day as officers searched the Leicestershire home of ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor , 68 , prompting him to publicly deny any wrongdoing . Proctor , whose Parliamentary career ended in a rent boy 'spanking ' scandal , said he was trapped in a 'Kafka-esque fantasy ' . Former disgraced Tory MP Harvey Proctor , pictured , also had his home raided earlier this week by officers from Operation Midland . Detectives spent two days searching Mr Proctor 's grace-and-favour home at Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire , pictured , after a police team arrived on the estate on Wednesday . Lord Bramall was head of the army from 1979-1982 before becoming Chief of the Defence staff - head of the whole armed forces - a position he held for three years . He first joined the army in 1943 and took part in the D-Day landings the next year . The young soldier was given the Military Cross at the end of the Second World War . Lord Bramall 's glittering military career saw him promoted to lieutenant and sent to Japan in 1946 , before serving in the Middle East during the 1950s as he climbed the ranks . He was given an OBE for his services to the Armed Forces in 1965 , shortly before he was deployed to Borneo as commanding officer of the Royal Green Jackets regiment , where his actions were mentioned in despatches . He would later serve in Hong Kong before returning to Britain . In his role as Chief of the Defence Staff , Lord Bramall played an integral role in planning the Falklands invasion . After retiring he was made a Knight of the Garter and , as a life peer , spoke out against invading Iraq in 2003 . Speaking on LBC Radio , Sir Bernard said his staff were 'determinedly working their way through ' all the evidence , adding : 'We 've now interviewed at least 1,000 people . ' Asked whether the huge amount of resources required could be justified , he said victims deserve answers . 'What we can not do is ignore people who were ignored 30 years ago , ' he said . Sir Bernard added that police 'have to prioritise ' but nevertheless have 'put tens of officers into these inquiries ' . He said : 'We have got both witnesses and suspects that are scattered to the four winds . They are not grouped geographically like they were 30 years ago . 'But we will get to the bottom of it , I am sure we will , so far as it is possible . ' The overarching Met inquiry into claims of historic sex abuse was triggered in 2012 when MP Tom Watson called for police to look again at allegations of a 'powerful paedophile network linked to Parliament and No 10 ' . At least six spin-off inquiries have been launched , with the most high-profile one investigating claims a VIP sex ring operated out of the exclusive Dolphin Square apartment complex in Pimlico . Lord Brittan had always denied any wrongdoing and after his death Tory colleagues lined up to defend his legacy . Ex-minister John Gummer , now Lord Deben , branded the claims 'wicked ' . Lord Bramall was unavailable for comment . Lord Brittan - pictured as British Trade and Industry Secretary - with Margaret Thatcher in 1986 . He had been accused of failing to act on a dossier of allegations about child sex abuse when he was Home Secretary . Lord Brittan 's former Cabinet colleague John Gummer ( right ) , who is now Lord Deben , attacked those behind 'wicked ' rumours about Lord Brittan . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .
Homes of Leon Brittan and Lord Bramall have been raided by the police . Raids conducted by officers from Scotland Yard 's Operation Midland . Operation was set up to investigate claims of a child sex abuse ring in last week . Properties in London and Yorkshire belonging to Lord Brittan searched . Home owned by Lord Bramall in Surrey was also raided by officers . Lord Bramall is one of the country 's most decorated war veterans .