Home Office minister criticises South Yorkshire Police over televised raid
Home Office minister Brandon Lewis criticised the force for allowing the BBC to film a raid on Sir Cliff's home in Berkshire in August 2014.
Officers from South Yorkshire Police searched his luxury apartment while a BBC film crew recorded the activity and named the entertainer after being tipped off about the raid beforehand.
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Hide AdThe raid was planned after a man claimed Sir Cliff had sexually abused him at a Christian concert in Sheffield in the 1980s.
He denied the allegation and the case was eventually dropped after the Crown Prosecution Service said there was a lack of evidence.
He was never arrested or charged.
Sir Cliff is now suing the BBC and South Yorkshire Police.
Mr Lewis said: "That is a great example of how to do this badly in a way that brings the entire police force into disrepute.
"The police have to understand that in order to wield the power that they have, take these investigations forward properly and appropriately, they have to understand that adage that with great power comes responsibility.
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Hide Ad"And at what point did anybody take the view that it is appropriate to do a raid with the BBC or any media outlet in tow?"