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| West Mercia Police chaplain Keith Osmund-Smith investigated | West Mercia Police chaplain Keith Osmund-Smith investigated |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A police chaplain is being investigated after speaking out about child sex exploitation. | A police chaplain is being investigated after speaking out about child sex exploitation. |
| Rev Keith Osmund-Smith told the Daily Mirror he had doubts information passed to officers about child sex exploitation was always acted on. | Rev Keith Osmund-Smith told the Daily Mirror he had doubts information passed to officers about child sex exploitation was always acted on. |
| West Mercia Police confirmed an internal investigation was taking place but declined to comment further. | West Mercia Police confirmed an internal investigation was taking place but declined to comment further. |
| Ch Supt Charles Hill said Rev Osmund-Smith had "chosen to take a sabbatical from his duties" until the new year. | |
| 'No responsibility' | |
| Home Office figures recently revealed Telford and Wrekin has the highest recorded rate of child sex offences in the country - with 256 child sex crimes from September 2014 to September 2015. | Home Office figures recently revealed Telford and Wrekin has the highest recorded rate of child sex offences in the country - with 256 child sex crimes from September 2014 to September 2015. |
| Rev Osmund-Smith, who is also Telford and Wrekin Council chaplain and lead co-ordinator for the street pastors in Telford, was quoted in the article in August saying lots of reports about child sex exploitation were sent to senior officers. | |
| He told the paper: "Because it was going to so many people, no-one was really taking responsibility for it. | |
| "I was never quite sure the things we were reporting were resulting in any serious action." | "I was never quite sure the things we were reporting were resulting in any serious action." |
| Last week, Telford Conservative MP Lucy Allan called for an inquiry into why child sex abuse has been going on in Telford for "over 20 years". | |
| West Mercia Police has three pastors, with one of the positions paid. | |
| The role involves offering confidential support to staff. | |
| Mr Osmund-Smith declined to comment. | Mr Osmund-Smith declined to comment. |