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| Lord Janner: Chances missed to prosecute, says inquiry | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Three chances were missed to prosecute late peer Lord Janner over sex abuse claims, an inquiry has found. | Three chances were missed to prosecute late peer Lord Janner over sex abuse claims, an inquiry has found. |
| The independent inquiry, commissioned by the director of public prosecutions, found police and prosecutors missed opportunities to charge Lord Janner in 1991, 2002 and 2007. | The independent inquiry, commissioned by the director of public prosecutions, found police and prosecutors missed opportunities to charge Lord Janner in 1991, 2002 and 2007. |
| Before he died in December, the ex-Labour MP - who then had dementia - was accused of 22 counts of sex offences against boys between the 1960s and 80s. | Before he died in December, the ex-Labour MP - who then had dementia - was accused of 22 counts of sex offences against boys between the 1960s and 80s. |
| His family denies the allegations. | His family denies the allegations. |
| The inquiry found the 1991 decision not to charge Lord Janner was "wrong" as there was enough evidence against him to provide "a realistic prospect of conviction" for indecent assault and one other serious sexual offence. | The inquiry found the 1991 decision not to charge Lord Janner was "wrong" as there was enough evidence against him to provide "a realistic prospect of conviction" for indecent assault and one other serious sexual offence. |
| 'Sincere regret' | 'Sincere regret' |
| Furthermore in 2002, allegations against Lord Janner were not supplied by the police to the Crown Prosecution Service, and as a result no prosecution was possible, the inquiry said. | Furthermore in 2002, allegations against Lord Janner were not supplied by the police to the Crown Prosecution Service, and as a result no prosecution was possible, the inquiry said. |
| And in 2007 Lord Janner should have been arrested and his home searched, because there was "sufficient evidence to prosecute" for indecent assault and one other serious sexual offence, the inquiry also concluded. | And in 2007 Lord Janner should have been arrested and his home searched, because there was "sufficient evidence to prosecute" for indecent assault and one other serious sexual offence, the inquiry also concluded. |
| Since Lord Janner's death a "trial of the facts", which was due to take place in April, has now been shelved by prosecutors. | Since Lord Janner's death a "trial of the facts", which was due to take place in April, has now been shelved by prosecutors. |
| Because Lord Janner was ruled unfit to to plead, due to this dementia, it was decided there would be a "trial of the facts" in which a jury would be asked to decide - without reaching a decision about guilt - if 22 alleged incidents of abuse had taken place. | |
| Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said: "The inquiry's findings that mistakes were made confirms my view that failings in the past by prosecutors and police meant that proceedings were not brought. | Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said: "The inquiry's findings that mistakes were made confirms my view that failings in the past by prosecutors and police meant that proceedings were not brought. |
| "It is a matter of sincere regret that on three occasions, opportunities to put the allegations against Lord Janner before a jury were not taken. | "It is a matter of sincere regret that on three occasions, opportunities to put the allegations against Lord Janner before a jury were not taken. |
| "It is important that we understand the steps which led to these decisions not to prosecute, and ensure that no such mistakes can be made again." | "It is important that we understand the steps which led to these decisions not to prosecute, and ensure that no such mistakes can be made again." |
| The inquiry was carried out by retired High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques, who also made some recommendations for better handling child abuse cases. | |
| As part of those recommendations Sir Richard said the CPS should consider whether time limits in charging decisions are appropriate. | |
| All findings have now been passed to the Goddard inquiry - which is the independent inquiry examining historical child sex abuse in England and Wales, chaired by New Zealand judge Justice Lowell Goddard. | |
| Who was Lord Janner? | Who was Lord Janner? |