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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/feb/12/bernard-hogan-howe-sex-abuse-claims-comments-vera-baird-northumbria-police
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| Hogan-Howe's attitude denies sex abuse victims justice, says police chief | Hogan-Howe's attitude denies sex abuse victims justice, says police chief |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Metropolitan police commissioner’s attitude towards those who make allegations of sexual abuse has led to thousands of victims being denied justice, according to a police chief. | The Metropolitan police commissioner’s attitude towards those who make allegations of sexual abuse has led to thousands of victims being denied justice, according to a police chief. |
| Vera Baird, the police and crime commissioner for Northumbria, said her force would not be adopting the policy of not automatically believing an alleged abuse victim, which has been suggested by Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe. | Vera Baird, the police and crime commissioner for Northumbria, said her force would not be adopting the policy of not automatically believing an alleged abuse victim, which has been suggested by Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe. |
| Baird said she was in complete disagreement with Britain’s most senior police officer over the issue of whether or not to believe complainants who tell the police that they have been raped or sexually abused. | |
| Related: Suspected sex offenders have rights the police must respect | Bernard Hogan-Howe | Related: Suspected sex offenders have rights the police must respect | Bernard Hogan-Howe |
| She said this was in contrast to the way in which every other complainant of crime was dealt with by police. “Thousands of victims of sexual abuse have been denied justice through the attitude the Met commissioner now advocates,” said Baird. | She said this was in contrast to the way in which every other complainant of crime was dealt with by police. “Thousands of victims of sexual abuse have been denied justice through the attitude the Met commissioner now advocates,” said Baird. |
| “Sexual abuse is extremely difficult to report, because of its intimate nature and its undermining impact on victims. They have to be told that police will not doubt them as they have habitually done in the past, but will believe them as they do in any other kind of complaint, ensure that they get support and investigate the case thoroughly.” | “Sexual abuse is extremely difficult to report, because of its intimate nature and its undermining impact on victims. They have to be told that police will not doubt them as they have habitually done in the past, but will believe them as they do in any other kind of complaint, ensure that they get support and investigate the case thoroughly.” |
| Writing in the Guardian, Hogan-Howe questioned the policy of believing alleged victims of sex crimes as he fought back against criticism of Operation Midland, the investigation into an allegedly murderous Westminster paedophile ring. | Writing in the Guardian, Hogan-Howe questioned the policy of believing alleged victims of sex crimes as he fought back against criticism of Operation Midland, the investigation into an allegedly murderous Westminster paedophile ring. |
| “There is a grave danger at the moment with the advice that is around that there is a tendency to always believe any complaint that is made, and that’s not wise for any good investigator,” he said. | “There is a grave danger at the moment with the advice that is around that there is a tendency to always believe any complaint that is made, and that’s not wise for any good investigator,” he said. |
| Baird said the Met commissioner had been criticised for an investigation into two individuals, whose names were published at an early stage before there could have been evidence to justify a charge, because no charges were ever brought. | Baird said the Met commissioner had been criticised for an investigation into two individuals, whose names were published at an early stage before there could have been evidence to justify a charge, because no charges were ever brought. |
| Related: Though Bernard Hogan-Howe kept his job, he could yet lose his reputation | Gaby Hinsliff | Related: Though Bernard Hogan-Howe kept his job, he could yet lose his reputation | Gaby Hinsliff |
| “The key problem was the irresponsible, presumably glory-seeking publication of their names, not that complaints should not be believed in sexual abuse cases in the same way that a burglary victim is believed and their complaint investigated,” she said. | “The key problem was the irresponsible, presumably glory-seeking publication of their names, not that complaints should not be believed in sexual abuse cases in the same way that a burglary victim is believed and their complaint investigated,” she said. |
| “In Northumbria, we have been judged highly for our investigation of sexual exploitation and domestic abuse. We intend to continue to rely on what complainants say and to give them support. We will investigate thoroughly, not rushing to publicise inappropriately, simply doing a thorough policing job to determine whether a case should go forward to the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service]. We encourage any person who is suffering from any kind of crime to come forward to report it and they will get help.” | |
| Victims of child sex abuse have also criticised Hogan-Howe for his comments, with some suggesting that he was attempting to deflect criticism of a badly run investigation. | Victims of child sex abuse have also criticised Hogan-Howe for his comments, with some suggesting that he was attempting to deflect criticism of a badly run investigation. |