Sir Cliff Richard’s anguish over shock sex abuse review will be ‘over in 28 days’
Veteran singer will not be forced to endure 'months of waiting'
A LEGAL review of a decision not to charge Sir Cliff Richard over abuse claims will take place within 28 days.
Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders made the announcement yesterday after it was claimed Sir Cliff, 75, might have to endure months of waiting.
She said the inquiry had been triggered by one of Sir Cliff’s accusers under “right to review” rules and the decision would not be overturned unless it was found to have been wrong.
Ms Saunders added: "We published our Victims' Right to Review scheme about two years ago in response to both a domestic Court of Appeal case and the European directive on victims' rights, both of which said that there must be the ability for victims to challenge a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service not to prosecute.
"The scheme makes it clear that the right is to challenge the decision, but we only overturn these decisions if we think that the original decision was wrong.
"We look at it again, and it must still be that there is sufficient evidence and it's in the public interest to prosecute. It must still satisfy the tests.
"It only goes on for a limited time. There are time limits when the complainant can make that request, and we will look at it within 28 days."
The veteran singer was investigated over sexual assault accusations made by four men dating from 1958 to 1983.
Sir Cliff’s spokesman said he was confident the review would “come to the right conclusion”.
The latest twist came after Sir Cliff revealed his relief at an end to two years of torment while he was investigated.
After the claims were dropped Sir Cliff said he was “obviously thrilled that the vile accusations and the resulting investigation have finally been brought to a close”.
But he said the fact he was identified, despite not being charged, meant he had been “hung out like live bait”.
Sir Cliff said: “How can there be evidence for something that never took place?”
In June South Yorkshire Police apologised “wholeheartedly” for the additional anxiety caused by their initial handling of the media interest in its probe.
It said nine men had made allegations but five of the cases did not reach the threshold necessary for them to be considered by the CPS.