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| Essex Police apologises over 28 child abuse investigations | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Essex Police has apologised to alleged child abuse victims after it said it had uncovered problems with at least 28 investigations involving nearly 60 children. | |
| One police officer has been suspended and 11 others have been put on restrictive duties. | |
| Some cases are said to involve "lack of honesty or integrity" by officers. | |
| The force said the cases had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). | The force said the cases had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). |
| Deputy Chief Constable Derek Benson said he was "determined" to find out "exactly what happened". | Deputy Chief Constable Derek Benson said he was "determined" to find out "exactly what happened". |
| Most of the cases relate to the work of the child abuse investigation team covering the north of Essex. | |
| Mr Benson said: "We have contacted the families of those involved in these investigations to let them know what is happening and apologise for the undoubted distress. | |
| "If individuals have failed in their duties then they will be held to account, but we will also look at the possible aspects of why this has happened." | "If individuals have failed in their duties then they will be held to account, but we will also look at the possible aspects of why this has happened." |
| Mr Benson said an experienced retired detective had been brought in to review the "live" investigations being conducted in the north of the force area. | Mr Benson said an experienced retired detective had been brought in to review the "live" investigations being conducted in the north of the force area. |
| He said the alleged victims included some very young children. | |
| Nic Alston, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh had ordered an "urgent review" late last year after concerns were raised about the quality of investigations. | |
| 'Lack of integrity' | |
| "This work led Essex Police to refer a number of cases to the IPCC, to suspend one officer and place another 11 officers on restricted duties," he said. | |
| "The IPCC has announced that it is conducting two independent investigations and a managed investigation of referrals relating to the handling of 28 child abuse investigations which were reported to Essex Police between April 2011 and November 2014. | |
| "These cases involve 59 victims. Some of those investigations involve allegations of a lack of honesty or integrity by officers." | |
| Some of the 28 investigations which have been referred to the IPCC are based on allegations of historical abuse, dating to the 1960s and 1970s. | |
| The IPCC says its investigation will look into whether officers failed to: | |
| Mary Cunneen, IPCC Commissioner for Essex, said: "Child abuse ruins people's lives, so it is important police get these investigations right and victims feel confident their cases will be properly handled. | |
| "It is vital our investigations are able to establish what happened in the north child abuse investigations team investigations, and why." | |
| A helpline has been set up for anyone who feels concerned about child abuse investigations carried out by Essex Police. The number is 01245 282103. | A helpline has been set up for anyone who feels concerned about child abuse investigations carried out by Essex Police. The number is 01245 282103. |