Richard's lawyers attack govt committee
Cliff Richard's lawyers have criticised a British government committee for publishing a letter about the police investigation into sex abuse allegations against the veteran singer.
The star's representatives claim the disclosure has caused Richard a "further round of unnecessary and extremely damaging media coverage".
The House of Commons' Home Affairs Committee published the letter from South Yorkshire Police online earlier this week, in which Chief Constable David Crompton said the police investigation into Richard has increased significantly in size and involves more than one allegation.
Head of the committee MP Keith Vaz has since defended the decision, saying it is "policy" to make all committee evidence public.
"As a direct result ... our client has been exposed to a further round of unnecessary and extremely damaging media coverage, with no due process," lawyer Gideon Benaim said.
"Our client had no opportunity to comment or make submissions to the committee in advance of publication."
He stressed the fact that Richard has not been arrested or charged with any offence and denies any wrongdoing.
In a letter of response, Mr Vaz said it is normal procedure to publish all evidence put before the committee.
"In the past, the committee has written to ask for your comments on the matters that have been raised by both South Yorkshire Police and the BBC," he wrote.
"You have previously declined to do so."
Richard said the claims against him were "absurd and untrue" and he had "never, in my life, assaulted anyone".
The entertainer was interviewed under caution last year by detectives investigating a claim of a sex crime involving a young boy in the 1980s, but was not arrested or charged.
