https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60166997
Seems to be a lot of confusion around this issue
The longer this is delayed the more it begins to look as if a compromise is being concocted
From Sky News :
Met Police statement labelled 'absolute nonsense' by senior legal figure
More dissenting opinion from a prominent legal figure here, this time from Nazir Afzal OBE, former Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England and previously chief executive of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners.
Notwithstanding possible explanations outlined in the previous post, he gives the Met's statement very short shrift - suggesting that "a purely factual report by Sue Gray cannot possibly prejudice a police investigation".
Another legal expert weighs in :
Top lawyer casts doubt on police claim that Sue Gray report could 'prejudice' investgation
The Met's statement has prompted an instant - and in some cases - strong reaction from various commentators.
A prominent theme in the wave of responses involves questions over the police's rationale in suggesting Sue Gray's report could in some way prejudice its investigation.
Barrister Adam Wagner points out he is not a criminal lawyer, but as a professor of law his view still carries weight.
And he joins others in highlighting the unusual nature of Scotland Yard's statement.
"How would a factual civil service report about events the police is investigating 'prejudice' their investigation?" he asks.
He points out (in an assumption that this journalist can confirm to be accurate) that "police don't, as far as I am aware, ask journalists not to report on ongoing *investigations* and often media will report on the factual circumstances surrounding a police investigation, then clam up once a charge has been brought."
"I suppose the police might argue that there is a possibility down the line of a jury trial e.g. if. there are misconduct in public office charges, but it still seems odd to say that Sue Gray's findings would at this very early stage 'prejudice' anything," he continues.
"And don't forget that most if not all of the offences at issue here (the coronavirus regulations offences) are 'summary only' offences, so no possibility of a jury trial. So why suppress parts of this report which itself will only refer those issues?"
Curiouser and curiouser