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12 more victims of child sex abuse in Rotherham come forward (3 September 2014)

Date: 03/09/2014
Duncan Lewis, Personal Injury Solicitors, 12 more victims of child sex abuse in Rotherham come forward

South Yorkshire Chief Constable David Crompton has revealed that 12 more victims of child abuse in Rotherham have come forward since Professor Alexis Jay’s report into the scandal was published.

BBC News reports that the news about more child abuse victims in Rotherham was revealed at a meeting of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee – which the Chief Constable was summoned to appear before to give evidence on how police in South Yorkshire tackled the widespread abuse of young people in Rotherham.

There have been allegations that police officers failed to take allegations made by victims seriously – one victim said police had told her she was a “known liar” when she reported being sexually abused.

There have also been accusations of a cover-up by the authorities in Rotherham because many of the abusers were of Pakistani origin – in a BBC Panorama investigation on Monday (01/09/14), a researcher who did not wish to be named told of how she was warned not to use the term “Asian” in a 2002 report into child abuse in Rotherham – and was sent on a two-day ethnicity and diversity course to raise her awareness of “ethnic issues”.

The researcher says she faced “hostility” from council employees after her report found that by 2002 there were already more than 270 victims of child sex exploitation in Rotherham, whom she spoke to at a youth group called Risky Business.

Mr Crompton has already announced that he has commissioned an independent inquiry into child abuse in Rotherham – and Home Secretary Theresa May has indicated the government may conduct an investigation into Rotherham Council, following revelations about widescale sexual abuse of children in Rotherham by men from the British Pakistani community.

It is estimated that during a 16-year period, more than 1,400 children were abused – although it is thought the number could be much higher, as not all the victims may have come forward.

Many of the victims had already been identified as victims of neglect or were in Local Authority care – and came and went from care homes to meet their abusers and a circle of men they were passed round for sexual exploitation.

However, when they sought help, victims say none was forthcoming.

In one case, police described the repeated rape of a 12-year-old girl by multiple male offenders as “entirely consensual”, according to Prof Jay’s report.

Mr Crompton told the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee that the number of officers handling child sex abuse cases in South Yorkshire has now increased to 62 – in 2012 there were just eight officers and in 2010, just three officers dealing with child sex abuse reports.

He added that South Yorkshire Police are currently investigating nine cases involving “multiple victim, multiple offender” child sex exploitation.

Mr Crompton has confirmed he is to remain in his post as Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police.

He is due to reappear before the committee next week to give specific answers about how police handled some of the cases highlighted in Prof Jay’s report.

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – Sexual & Physical Abuse Claims

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of personal injury solicitors and can offer victims of sexual and physical abuse expert help in making no win no fee Sexual & Physical Abuse Claims for compensation.

Personal injury claimants who have suffered sexual and physical abuse can make a claim under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme – or via the civil courts on a no win no fee basis.

Usually a criminal conviction against the offender has to be obtained before a claim can be made – but Duncan Lewis can advise on making a compensation claim, including cases of historic sexual and physical abuse and cases involving failures in child protection among agencies and the police.

Duncan Lewis is also one of the UK leading providers of Legal Aid services.

For sensitive, confidential and expert help with making no win no fee Sexual & Physical Abuse Claims, contact Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.


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