The Metropolitan Police Force has warned that only a redacted version of the independent review into its investigation of a VIP paedophile ring is likely to be released to the public.

Assistant Commissioner Helen King has made it clear that the review by retired judge Sir Richard Henriques into Operation Midland would not be published in full because it contains confidential material, The Times reported.

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In a letter to people falsely accused of sex abuse and murder by a person known by the name of Nick, she said: "Once we have received Sir Richard's report we will need to consider it very carefully, not just in terms of what can and cannot be published from it — but also the extent to which the Metropolitan Police agrees or otherwise with all of its findings and recommendations."

She added: "It will clearly take time to work through the detail of it before we will be in a position to decide what may be suitable for sharing with you and a number of others with a similar interest."

The police force confirmed on Tuesday (4 October) that a draft copy of the review into Operation Midland would be handed to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe this week.

The force undertook a £2m inquiry into allegations made by Nick that included serial murder and rape by an establishment paedophile ring in the 1970s and 1980s. Operation Midland was finally closed in March 2016, 15 months after police were unable to find any evidence to support Nick's allegations.

The Daily Mail said The Met Police had declined to answer questions on the review, including whether any officers had been warned they would be facing criticism in the report or even face potential disciplinary proceedings.

The police force said: "The Met made clear when Sir Richard was commissioned to look at the issues that key findings and recommendations from his independent review would be published but the full review would remain private as it would contain confidential and sensitive information. At this time there is no timetable for the publication of content."

Fury over decision not to publish report in full

News that the review is not likely to be published in full faced backlash. Harvey Proctor, a former Conservative MP who was falsely accused by Nick accused the Met of a cover-up.

"It bears all the hallmarks of a secret police state," he said. Proctor urged Sir Richard to publish the report in full himself "in the best interest of the criminal justice system."

Meanwhile, Daniel Janner QC, the son of the late Labour peer Greville Janner who was also falsely accused of abuse, asked for the review to be published in full and is reportedly considering seeking a legal order to obtain a copy of the report.