- Steve Rodhouse received a bumper pay rise and boost to his £3million pension
- He is facing a disciplinary hearing over claims he lied over Operation Midland
- The 2014 probe severely damaged the reputations of innocent public figures
A top police officer facing disciplinary proceedings over Scotland Yard’s shambolic VIP child abuse inquiry has been awarded a £10,000 pay rise.
Steve Rodhouse also received a huge boost to his near £3million pension pot, newly-published documents reveal.
The pay increase makes him one of Britain’s highest-paid officers – despite the fact he was removed from his role as director-general of operations at the National Crime Agency (NCA) because he faces a disciplinary hearing.
Last year the police watchdog said the former Met deputy assistant commissioner will face a gross misconduct charge over allegations that he lied in public at the conclusion of Operation Midland.
Mr Rodhouse led the disastrous probe into the lies of a fantasist known as ‘Nick’ – real name Carl Beech – whose wild accusations of an Establishment paedophile ring were deemed ‘credible and true’ by the Met.
Top police officer Steve Rodhouse, who is facing disciplinary proceedings over Scotland Yard’s shambolic VIP child abuse inquiry, has been awarded a £10,000 pay rise
The former Met deputy assistant commissioner will face a gross misconduct charge over allegations that he lied in public at the conclusion of Operation Midland
Mr Rodhouse led the disastrous probe into the lies of a fantasist known as ‘Nick’ – real name Carl Beech – whose wild accusations of an Establishment paedophile ring were deemed ‘credible and true’ by the Met.
The 2014 investigation severely damaged the reputations of innocent public figures, including ex-Armed Forces chief Lord Bramall and former home secretary Leon Brittan.
The £2.5 million inquiry closed in March 2016 without any arrests or charges and Beech was later jailed for 18 years for perverting the course of justice, fraud and child sexual offences.
Since the Independent Office for Police Conduct announced that Mr Rodhouse should face gross misconduct proceedings, his salary has risen by £10,000 to around £190,000-£195,000 and his pension pot value has increased to £2.9 million.
Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor, who was falsely accused of child murder by Beech, said the police establishment was delaying Mr Rodhouse’s hearing so he can retire with the biggest pension possible.
He said: ‘He faces a gross misconduct hearing and the authorities decide the best thing to do is to give him a pay rise and increase his pension – it is outrageous.’
The IOPC has recently served gross misconduct papers on Mr Rodhouse and is awaiting a response.
A chairman for the disciplinary hearing has been appointed, but no date has been set.
The NCA said: ‘Any salary increases are the result of agency annual pay reviews.’