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| Cyril Smith prosecution failures 'could be repeated' | Cyril Smith prosecution failures 'could be repeated' |
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| An admission by police and prosecutors that the late MP Sir Cyril Smith repeatedly physically and sexually abused children at a Rochdale care home and should have been put on trial has drawn a warning from a solicitor representing his victims that such failures could still occur today. | An admission by police and prosecutors that the late MP Sir Cyril Smith repeatedly physically and sexually abused children at a Rochdale care home and should have been put on trial has drawn a warning from a solicitor representing his victims that such failures could still occur today. |
| Smith, the Liberal and subsequently Liberal Democrat MP for the town, who died in 2010, was the subject of police investigations dating back to the 1960s. | Smith, the Liberal and subsequently Liberal Democrat MP for the town, who died in 2010, was the subject of police investigations dating back to the 1960s. |
| In a statement, Greater Manchester police said there was "overwhelming evidence" that he attacked boys, six at the Cambridge House children's home in Rochdale, and two others. | In a statement, Greater Manchester police said there was "overwhelming evidence" that he attacked boys, six at the Cambridge House children's home in Rochdale, and two others. |
| In another statement, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said a decision not to prosecute made in 1970 by the then director of public prosecutions (DPP) would not have been made today. The CPS said attitudes and the law had changed, but added that one factor that allowed Smith to escape trial was an assessment by the DPP in 1970 that "the characters of some of these young men would be likely to render their evidence suspect". | In another statement, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said a decision not to prosecute made in 1970 by the then director of public prosecutions (DPP) would not have been made today. The CPS said attitudes and the law had changed, but added that one factor that allowed Smith to escape trial was an assessment by the DPP in 1970 that "the characters of some of these young men would be likely to render their evidence suspect". |
| Alan Collins, from the law firm Pannone, which represents men who say they were abused by Smith, said he was not convinced the attitude towards child abuse victims had changed. | Alan Collins, from the law firm Pannone, which represents men who say they were abused by Smith, said he was not convinced the attitude towards child abuse victims had changed. |
| "There was a tone of dismissiveness [towards Smith's accusers] and my concern is that that underlying tone of dismissiveness towards the claimants is still with us, 40 years on," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "It appears there is still this underlying attitude when it comes to child abuse allegations that children are still not believed." | "There was a tone of dismissiveness [towards Smith's accusers] and my concern is that that underlying tone of dismissiveness towards the claimants is still with us, 40 years on," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "It appears there is still this underlying attitude when it comes to child abuse allegations that children are still not believed." |
| Barry Fitton, one of Smith's victims, told PoliticsHome: "He's got to be stripped of his knighthood and his MBE. And I want an apology from all those who said I was lying." Another victim, Alan Neal, a councillor for the Community First party in Rossendale, told PoliticsHome: "For 48 years, people have chosen to say we were telling lies when we were telling the truth. Sadly some of them are no longer alive. It's still extremely raw and I'm a little bit bitter." | |
| Smith was secretary of the Rochdale Hostel for Boys Association, where he was accused of abusing vulnerable youngsters by spanking and touching them. | Smith was secretary of the Rochdale Hostel for Boys Association, where he was accused of abusing vulnerable youngsters by spanking and touching them. |
| The first investigation into Smith found eight youths who alleged that Smith attacked them when they were teenagers, between 1961 and 1966. The descriptions of the attacks were similar and according to the CPS "were allegedly conducted on the pretexts of either a medical examination or punishment for misbehaviour". | The first investigation into Smith found eight youths who alleged that Smith attacked them when they were teenagers, between 1961 and 1966. The descriptions of the attacks were similar and according to the CPS "were allegedly conducted on the pretexts of either a medical examination or punishment for misbehaviour". |
| Greater Manchester police said: "The force is now publicly acknowledging that young boys were victims of physical and sexual abuse committed by Smith." | Greater Manchester police said: "The force is now publicly acknowledging that young boys were victims of physical and sexual abuse committed by Smith." |
| Assistant Chief Constable Steve Heywood said: "If the same evidence was presented to the CPS today, there would have been a very realistic prospect that Smith would have been charged with a number of indecent assaults, and that the case would have been brought to trial. | Assistant Chief Constable Steve Heywood said: "If the same evidence was presented to the CPS today, there would have been a very realistic prospect that Smith would have been charged with a number of indecent assaults, and that the case would have been brought to trial. |
| "Clearly that is a bold statement to make but it is absolutely important for those victims who were abused by Smith that we publicly acknowledge the suffering they endured. Although Smith cannot be charged or convicted posthumously, from the overwhelming evidence we have it is right and proper that we should publicly recognise that young boys were sexually and physically abused." | "Clearly that is a bold statement to make but it is absolutely important for those victims who were abused by Smith that we publicly acknowledge the suffering they endured. Although Smith cannot be charged or convicted posthumously, from the overwhelming evidence we have it is right and proper that we should publicly recognise that young boys were sexually and physically abused." |
| In 1998 and 1999, Greater Manchester police passed two separate files to the CPS about Smith's activities at Cambridge House, but on both occasions no further action was recommended. | In 1998 and 1999, Greater Manchester police passed two separate files to the CPS about Smith's activities at Cambridge House, but on both occasions no further action was recommended. |
| Simon Danczuk, the Labour MP for Rochdale, who first raised allegations against Smith on the floor of the House of Commons, said the CPS had serious questions to answer over its failure to act in the past. | Simon Danczuk, the Labour MP for Rochdale, who first raised allegations against Smith on the floor of the House of Commons, said the CPS had serious questions to answer over its failure to act in the past. |
| A Liberal Democrat spokesman said: "These allegations are abhorrent and should be taken very seriously. | A Liberal Democrat spokesman said: "These allegations are abhorrent and should be taken very seriously. |
| "Clearly the party does not endorse any person proved to have been in incidents such as these. All allegations should have been investigated thoroughly with the authorities taking whatever action necessary. | "Clearly the party does not endorse any person proved to have been in incidents such as these. All allegations should have been investigated thoroughly with the authorities taking whatever action necessary. |
| "Any new allegations should be made to the police. The Liberal Democrats are not aware of any allegations being made to the party, and have never been involved in any investigations. | "Any new allegations should be made to the police. The Liberal Democrats are not aware of any allegations being made to the party, and have never been involved in any investigations. |
| "The alleged incidents and the reported police investigations took place outside of the time Cyril Smith was a Liberal MP." | "The alleged incidents and the reported police investigations took place outside of the time Cyril Smith was a Liberal MP." |