Entertainers , actors and priests are now claimed to be part of a VIP child abuse ring that Scotland Yard stands accused of covering up . The paedophiles were initially said to include MPs , senior police officers , and judges , but now investigators have revealed the net has been widened further . Over 30 years , officers from Scotland Yard are said to have also protected entertainers , actor , and priest by shutting down inquiries . The police watchdog has now added a further three alleged paedophilia cover-ups by the Metropolitan Police to the investigation , bring the total to 17 . Probe : Police allegedly stopped investing a child sex ring based in Dolphin Square in Westmister , pictured . The police watchdog has now added a further three alleged paedophilia cover-ups by the Metropolitan Police to the investigation , bring the total to 17 . In a statement the IPCC said the police investigation had 'gathered evidence against MPs , judges , media entertainers , police , actors , clergy and others ' . Criminal proceedings were being prepared , but two months later an officer was called in by a senior Metropolitan Police officer and told to drop the case , it is alleged . The IPCC is also looking into an allegation about police actions during a child abuse investigation in the 1980s , and another complaint about the same investigation - although no details of this have been given . Allegations : Sarah Green of the IPCC will oversee the investigation into the corruption claims . The watchdog said all the allegations relate to 'suppressing evidence , hindering or halting investigations ' and the 'covering up the offences because of the involvement of members of parliament and police officers ' . When the probe was announced earlier this month , commentators said It could be the biggest investigation into police corruption since the 1970s . The Metropolitan Police force is leading the investigation into the alleged corrupt actions of its officers but the IPCC says it is closely monitoring their probe . The IPCC had last week announced that it is investigating 14 allegations . The Independent Police Complaints Commission ( IPCC ) is also assessing a further six referrals it has received from the force as part of the case . When the investigation was launched The IPCC Deputy Chair Sarah Green said : 'These allegations are of historic , high level corruption of the most serious nature . 'We will oversee the investigations and ensure that they meet the terms of reference that we will set . '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 . ' The complex web of allegations was uncovered by detectives probing claims of historical sex abuse first raised by Labour MP Tom Watson in October 2012 . The claims include that police deliberately stalled their inquiries into the Elm Guest House , in Barnes , south-west London , leaving dozens of boys to be abused . Officers are also accused of releasing paedophile MP Cyril Smith without charge after he was caught in an undercover operation at a sex party involving teenage boys . Former Home Secretary Leon Brittan , pictured left , has been alleged to be involved in an establishment cover-up , as has William Whitelaw , pictured right , also a former Home Secretary . Officers are also accused of releasing paedophile MP Cyril Smith without charge after he was caught in an undercover operation at a sex party involving teenage boys . It has also been claimed officers failed to end sex parties at the now notorious Dolphin Square complex , in Pimlico , central London , following the intervention of ‘ prominent people ’ . Tory home secretary , William Whitelaw , who is accused of demanding that police drop an inquiry into a paedophile ring , is also under the spotlight . As is former Home Secretary Leon Brittan . Both men have since died . Police were accused of hushing-up allegations about disgraced ex-Top Of The Pops presenter Jimmy Savile .
Independent Police Complaints Commission extends probe into sex ring . Entertainers , actors and priests are now thought to have been protected by corrupt police officers . Score: 7