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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Cyril Smith inquiry: Police identify new suspects | Cyril Smith inquiry: Police identify new suspects |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Police have identified "a number of suspects" as part of an investigation into alleged sexual abuse at a school linked to the late MP Cyril Smith. | Police have identified "a number of suspects" as part of an investigation into alleged sexual abuse at a school linked to the late MP Cyril Smith. |
| Greater Manchester Police (GMP) added more alleged victims had come forward over claims about Knowl View School in Rochdale from the 1970s. | Greater Manchester Police (GMP) added more alleged victims had come forward over claims about Knowl View School in Rochdale from the 1970s. |
| The allegations related to at least 11 potential suspects. | The allegations related to at least 11 potential suspects. |
| Rochdale Council said it was launching an inquiry into a possible abuse cover-up at the residential school for boys. | Rochdale Council said it was launching an inquiry into a possible abuse cover-up at the residential school for boys. |
| It is understood nine people have contacted police to say they were abused from the 1970s onwards by adults at the school, which closed in 1992. | It is understood nine people have contacted police to say they were abused from the 1970s onwards by adults at the school, which closed in 1992. |
| No-one has been arrested. | No-one has been arrested. |
| GMP Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy said: "I would like to appeal for victims of abuse to come forward. | GMP Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy said: "I would like to appeal for victims of abuse to come forward. |
| "We recognise this is a hugely difficult decision for the people involved, particularly when they involve events many years ago." | |
| He said officers were also trying to trace a "significant" number of people in relation to the investigation. | He said officers were also trying to trace a "significant" number of people in relation to the investigation. |
| In 2012, the force investigated claims Smith abused young boys in the 1960s while in his role as secretary of the Rochdale Hostel for Boys Association. | In 2012, the force investigated claims Smith abused young boys in the 1960s while in his role as secretary of the Rochdale Hostel for Boys Association. |
| He had been accused of abusing eight youngsters at Cambridge Hostel in the town by spanking and touching them. | He had been accused of abusing eight youngsters at Cambridge Hostel in the town by spanking and touching them. |
| Three separate files were passed to the director of public prosecutions and the Crown Prosecution Service, although on each occasion no prosecution was pursued. | Three separate files were passed to the director of public prosecutions and the Crown Prosecution Service, although on each occasion no prosecution was pursued. |
| Rochdale Council, which launched its own a formal investigation into Knowl View school in January, said it was now undertaking an independent review. | Rochdale Council, which launched its own a formal investigation into Knowl View school in January, said it was now undertaking an independent review. |
| Smith's family has said he always denied such accusations and said on Monday they welcomed the review. | Smith's family has said he always denied such accusations and said on Monday they welcomed the review. |
| GMP has also said it is also carrying out an investigation into whether there is evidence of a criminal cover-up over the abuse allegations. | GMP has also said it is also carrying out an investigation into whether there is evidence of a criminal cover-up over the abuse allegations. |
| The claims were published in a book by Rochdale's Labour MP Simon Danczuk called Smile for the Camera: The Double Life of Cyril Smith. | The claims were published in a book by Rochdale's Labour MP Simon Danczuk called Smile for the Camera: The Double Life of Cyril Smith. |
| Smith was a governor and then later became the chairman of governors at Knowl View School. | |
| 'Widen scope' | |
| Police, spies and politicians covered up the child abuse carried out by Smith, according to Mr Danczuk's book. | Police, spies and politicians covered up the child abuse carried out by Smith, according to Mr Danczuk's book. |
| The former Rochdale Liberal MP was left free to abuse children as young as eight despite 144 complaints by victims, the author claimed. | |
| Sir Peter said: "We are carrying out a review into those allegations and other matters of public debate around that book to see whether that justifies a criminal investigation into allegations of a cover-up." | Sir Peter said: "We are carrying out a review into those allegations and other matters of public debate around that book to see whether that justifies a criminal investigation into allegations of a cover-up." |
| Rochdale Council said its review would cover a number of areas including whether abuse was "tolerated, facilitated or promoted" by the council or there was a "culture" at the council, which "inhibited the proper investigation, exposure and prevention of such abuse". | Rochdale Council said its review would cover a number of areas including whether abuse was "tolerated, facilitated or promoted" by the council or there was a "culture" at the council, which "inhibited the proper investigation, exposure and prevention of such abuse". |
| Council leader Colin Lambert said: "It is clear that to ensure there is public confidence in the thoroughness of the review we must widen its scope to include a review of all information available to the council." | Council leader Colin Lambert said: "It is clear that to ensure there is public confidence in the thoroughness of the review we must widen its scope to include a review of all information available to the council." |
| He said any evidence they found which was "relevant to allegations of criminal activity" would be passed on to the police. | He said any evidence they found which was "relevant to allegations of criminal activity" would be passed on to the police. |
| Recent claims | |
| The inquiry will review the council's conduct between 1961 and 1995, when sexual or physical abuse is alleged to have taken place. | |
| The findings will be reported back to the council by the end of July. | The findings will be reported back to the council by the end of July. |
| Following the announcement, Smith's family issued a statement which said: "The family welcome the review and now wish to know finally what is true and what isn't. | Following the announcement, Smith's family issued a statement which said: "The family welcome the review and now wish to know finally what is true and what isn't. |
| "We will co-operate with any review or investigation the authorities undertake. | "We will co-operate with any review or investigation the authorities undertake. |
| "We repeat Sir Cyril always maintained his innocence about the inquiries made in the 1960s and any subsequent investigations by the GMP or Lancashire Police force. | "We repeat Sir Cyril always maintained his innocence about the inquiries made in the 1960s and any subsequent investigations by the GMP or Lancashire Police force. |
| "Nobody in the family has any knowledge whatsoever of any of the recent claims made in the press and/or Simon Danczuk's Book." | "Nobody in the family has any knowledge whatsoever of any of the recent claims made in the press and/or Simon Danczuk's Book." |
| Smith was MP from 1972 to 1992. He died in 2010 aged 82. | Smith was MP from 1972 to 1992. He died in 2010 aged 82. |