Sir Cliff Richard has confirmed he will take legal action against the BBC and South Yorkshire Police following the live broadcast of a police raid on his home.
The veteran singer wants compensation in the form of £1m for “misuse of private information”, as he claims that police and journalists “unlawfully colluded” to invade his privacy during the 2014 investigation into allegations of historic sexual abuse.
Investigating officers were filmed searching Sir Cliff’s apartment in Berkshire in August 2014, leading to him being publicly named as part of the probe. The 75-year-old was never arrested or charged and the Crown Prosecution Service dismissed the case on grounds of insufficient evidence in June.
Both the BBC and South Yorkshire Police have since apologised to the star, but Sir Cliff said his life was “effectively turned upside down” and the “gross intrusion” into his privacy damaged his reputation and left him physically unwell. The letters, which were sent last Friday, say the BBC and the police caused him “unnecessary damage” which was described as “foreseeable and unjustified”.
#Peace.Love.CliffRichards
