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Cyril Smith: Detective claims three probes were stopped | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A former detective has said three investigations into Cyril Smith sex abuse allegations were stopped. | A former detective has said three investigations into Cyril Smith sex abuse allegations were stopped. |
Retired Det Sgt Jack Tasker, who served with Lancashire Police, carried out the third investigation, following two by the former Rochdale Borough force. | Retired Det Sgt Jack Tasker, who served with Lancashire Police, carried out the third investigation, following two by the former Rochdale Borough force. |
He claimed senior officers ordered him to hand over notes and warned he would be "in serious trouble" if he continued the investigation. | He claimed senior officers ordered him to hand over notes and warned he would be "in serious trouble" if he continued the investigation. |
He believes someone "high up" made sure the case never got to court. | He believes someone "high up" made sure the case never got to court. |
Mr Tasker said he was asked in 1969 to investigate the allegations by officers from Rochdale, whose own inquiries into abuse at the privately-run Cambridge House care home in the town had been halted. | Mr Tasker said he was asked in 1969 to investigate the allegations by officers from Rochdale, whose own inquiries into abuse at the privately-run Cambridge House care home in the town had been halted. |
'We believed them' | 'We believed them' |
"They had twice investigated Cyril Smith for paedophilia and each time the chief constable of Rochdale [the late Patrick Ross] had taken the file away and told them to stop," he said. | "They had twice investigated Cyril Smith for paedophilia and each time the chief constable of Rochdale [the late Patrick Ross] had taken the file away and told them to stop," he said. |
"They suggested that myself and [my partner] could get into Rochdale and get around these people without anyone getting to know. | "They suggested that myself and [my partner] could get into Rochdale and get around these people without anyone getting to know. |
"They gave us the names of the boys and we interviewed them and eventually, with a solicitor, we interviewed Cyril Smith at the police station." | "They gave us the names of the boys and we interviewed them and eventually, with a solicitor, we interviewed Cyril Smith at the police station." |
He said he believed the evidence given by the boys, who had been residents of the home. | He said he believed the evidence given by the boys, who had been residents of the home. |
"There was no DNA in those days - you had to believe the victims when they told you, and, quite frankly, myself and my colleague did believe them," he said. | "There was no DNA in those days - you had to believe the victims when they told you, and, quite frankly, myself and my colleague did believe them," he said. |
Later he interviewed Smith at a police station in the presence of his solicitor. | Later he interviewed Smith at a police station in the presence of his solicitor. |
"He was very, very nervous, and his last words when he left with his solicitor was, 'This will kill my mother'," he said. | "He was very, very nervous, and his last words when he left with his solicitor was, 'This will kill my mother'," he said. |
"We concluded that he had a case to answer and I think those boys would have stood up in court. | "We concluded that he had a case to answer and I think those boys would have stood up in court. |
"My opinion of Cyril Smith was that he was a big bumptious bully and any decent barrister or solicitor would have made mincemeat of him." | "My opinion of Cyril Smith was that he was a big bumptious bully and any decent barrister or solicitor would have made mincemeat of him." |
The same opinion was voiced by a detective superintendent in a 1970 report to the chief constable of Lancashire as part of a fourth investigation. | The same opinion was voiced by a detective superintendent in a 1970 report to the chief constable of Lancashire as part of a fourth investigation. |
This got as far as the Director of Public Prosecutions, who decided not to proceed. | This got as far as the Director of Public Prosecutions, who decided not to proceed. |
'Scratching the surface' | 'Scratching the surface' |
Later Mr Tasker said two senior officers came to his office and told him to hand over "every scrap of paper" on the investigation. | Later Mr Tasker said two senior officers came to his office and told him to hand over "every scrap of paper" on the investigation. |
"[They said] we must keep out of Rochdale and we must not speak to anyone about the Cyril Smith inquiry or we'd be in serious trouble," he said. | "[They said] we must keep out of Rochdale and we must not speak to anyone about the Cyril Smith inquiry or we'd be in serious trouble," he said. |
He believes many other men were involved in the abuse and the Smith investigations were only "scratching the surface". | He believes many other men were involved in the abuse and the Smith investigations were only "scratching the surface". |
"It was obvious that someone quite high up, quite powerful, was making sure that Cyril Smith never appeared before a court." | |
Smith's family said he always denied such accusations and said they were saddened that allegations were now being made when he could no longer defend himself. | Smith's family said he always denied such accusations and said they were saddened that allegations were now being made when he could no longer defend himself. |
The Smith family said they would continue to co-operate with any further investigations. |
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