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| Essex Police apologises over 30 child abuse investigations | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | 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. | 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." | "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. |
| The BBC understands one of the cases concerns a five-year-old girl who was raped by a boy, aged 12. He was given a final warning, the juvenile equivalent of a caution. | The BBC understands one of the cases concerns a five-year-old girl who was raped by a boy, aged 12. He was given a final warning, the juvenile equivalent of a caution. |
| Nick 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. | Nick 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Analysis: Julian Sturdy, BBC East Investigations Editor | Analysis: Julian Sturdy, BBC East Investigations Editor |
| The rape of a five-year-old girl by a 12-year-old boy in 2011 was an unimaginable crime. | The rape of a five-year-old girl by a 12-year-old boy in 2011 was an unimaginable crime. |
| But what followed was an extraordinary catalogue of blunders, by the authorities who were trusted by the family to bring the culprit to justice. | But what followed was an extraordinary catalogue of blunders, by the authorities who were trusted by the family to bring the culprit to justice. |
| The boy admitted the crime but the case wasn't referred to the Crown Prosecution Service. The boy wasn't put on the sex offenders register. He was simply given a final warning. | The boy admitted the crime but the case wasn't referred to the Crown Prosecution Service. The boy wasn't put on the sex offenders register. He was simply given a final warning. |
| Last year the girl, who was now eight, wrote to the Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston. | Last year the girl, who was now eight, wrote to the Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston. |
| Her heart-rending letter said: "When I was five something very bad happened and it was your job to make sure he was properly dealt with and punished. But you didn't do your job and you let me down." | Her heart-rending letter said: "When I was five something very bad happened and it was your job to make sure he was properly dealt with and punished. But you didn't do your job and you let me down." |
| He apologised. However, this was far from an isolated case. An investigation looked into the wider workings on the child abuse investigations team in north Essex. | He apologised. However, this was far from an isolated case. An investigation looked into the wider workings on the child abuse investigations team in north Essex. |
| Now a further 27 investigations have also been referred to the IPCC. The scale of this scandal is only starting to emerge. | Now a further 27 investigations have also been referred to the IPCC. The scale of this scandal is only starting to emerge. |