Police officers face criminal investigation into mishandling of abuse cases
Six police officers are facing a criminal investigation after an inquiry into the alleged mishandling of child abuse complaints was extended, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPPC) has said.
Earlier this year Essex Police apologised to alleged child abuse victims after it found problems relating to “a lack of honesty or integrity” with 30 investigations involving 59 children.
The IPCC launched an investigation and today said it is now looking at a total of 49 cases handled by the force’s north Child Abuse Investigation Team between 2011 and 2015.
It has issued notices to 25 serving officers and four to former staff, meaning they will be subject to an investigation.
Six of the officers are also facing a criminal investigation for alleged offences including misconduct in public office and perverting the course of justice.
An IPCC spokesman said: “Serving a police officer with a notice advises them their conduct is subject to investigation, it does not indicate or prejudge any outcome of the investigation.”
Twenty-two of the notices allege gross misconduct and seven relate to alleged misconduct matters.
These include failing to make reasonable enquiries and progress investigations, failing to address victim safeguarding and concerns regarding honesty and integrity issues in relation to how some investigations were carried out.
All of the officers being investigating are below chief officer ranks, the IPCC said.
The IPCC has written to the victims and their families to update them of this development.
An Essex Police spokesman said the force would continue to cooperate fully with these investigations.
He added: “These investigations relate to issues we identified and referred to the IPCC.
“We took a number of immediate actions to put things right and will work with the IPCC to identify where further improvements need to be made.
“We are working closely with partner agencies and children charities to ensure the force gets expert, independent advice and the changes we have made to the way we investigate child abuse cases mean that our investigations will be of the highest standards possible.
“There is no more important issue to Essex Police than protecting children.”
Speaking when the original inquiry was launched, Deputy Chief Constable Derek Benson said: “If individuals have failed in their duties then they will be held to account.”
Nick Alston, police and crime commissioner for Essex, said: “I am sure that people will be concerned to learn that the IPCC has served further misconduct and gross misconduct notices on serving and former Essex Police personnel and that six officers will now be subject to a criminal investigation.
“However, it is completely right that the IPCC continues to progress its investigation and we must be careful not to pre-judge the outcome.
“It is important to remember that Essex Police itself initiated the review into the quality of child abuse investigations carried out by the North Child Abuse Investigation Team.
“The force has rightly treated this matter seriously and I have been kept closely informed of the progress of the review by the chief constable.”
