Abuse victims had complained about Rotherham police officer

By The Press Association8th February 2015News EnglandChild Abuse, News England, Rotherham, Sexual Abuse

A specialist child abuse lawyer has said two victims of the Rotherham scandal had complained to him about a police officer who has since been killed in a car crash.

David Greenwood, of Switalskis Solicitors, said the two clients asked him to made representations to South Yorkshire Police about Pc Hassan Ali.

The 44-year-old police officer died in hospital after a collision with a car in Sheffield while he was off duty.

Mr Greenwood, who leads a team which represents more than a dozen abuse victims, told the BBC the complaints were about Pc Ali’s alleged unwillingness to pursue claims of exploitation.

And an article in The Times said Pc Ali was in regular contact with a violent offender suspected of abusing under-age girls in the town.

Mr Greenwood said complaints about the officer’s conduct must still be investigated, regardless of his death.

He told the BBC: “The story of Pc Ali is only one part of the whole story of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham.

“It’s important that this element of the story is investigated properly so we can fit all the pieces together and understand what was happening and what allowed the exploitation to happen over such a long period.”

David Crompton, Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, said: “Pc Ali was a well-liked officer whose colleagues are devastated by what has happened.”