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Essex Police apologises over 30 child abuse investigations | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A police force has apologised to alleged child abuse victims after it found problems with 30 investigations involving 59 children. | |
One police officer has been suspended and 11 others have been put on restrictive duties by Essex Police. | |
Some cases are said to involve a "lack of honesty or integrity" by officers. | |
Deputy Chief Constable Derek Benson said: "If individuals have failed in their duties then they will be held to account." | |
The force said 28 cases had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which was already reviewing two other investigations. | |
Most of the cases relate to the work of the child abuse investigation team covering the north of Essex. | 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. | 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. |
"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. | 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. | 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' | '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. | "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. | "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." | "These cases involve 59 victims. Some of those investigations involve allegations of a lack of honesty or integrity by officers." |
Some of the 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: | 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. | 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." | "It is vital our investigations are able to establish what happened in the north child abuse investigations team investigations, and why." |
The IPCC said it was already investigating the conduct of five officers from the north child abuse investigations team following referrals from Essex police last August and October. | |
These concern an allegation that a police officer fraudulently signed a complainant's signature, and how officers responded to reports a girl was allegedly the victim of child sexual exploitation. | |
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. |