[1][2] The initial allegations of corruption were made by a supergrass who claimed that some officers, including members of the elite Flying Squad which dealt with commercial armed robberies, were receiving bribes from criminals in return for warnings of imminent police raids or arrests, the fabrication of evidence against innocent men, and having charges against guilty criminals dropped.
Chief Constable Leonard Burt told his investigation team not to pass any evidence it obtained against Metropolitan Police officers to the Met Commissioner, David McNee.
Shortly before his retirement in February 1980, the Chief Constable of Dorset Police, Arthur Hambleton, the superior of Burt, made allegations that Countryman had been wilfully obstructed by Commissioner McNee and Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Thomas Hetherington.
In May 1980 Leonard Burt returned to Dorset Police and responsibility for Countryman passed to Sir Peter Matthews, Chief Constable of Surrey Constabulary.
"[11] Questions asked in the British Parliament have, on several occasions, called on the Home Secretary to release the findings of Operation Countryman, but such requests have been refused as these are protected by public interest immunity.