Metropolitan Police bring historic abuse inquiries under single command

Scotland Yard has brought all its ongoing historic child sex abuse investigations together under the control of a single team of detectives.

Operation Midland, which is investigating allegations of murder by a so-called Westminster paedophile ring in the 1970s and 1980s, and Operation Fairbank, which is looking at allegations of sexual abuse involving senior politicians, are among those being overseen by the unit led by Detective Superintendent Ang Scott, from the Met’s sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse (SOECA) unit.

A spokesman said Ms Scott would oversee officers from SOECA, the homicide and major crime command and the Met’s directorate of professional standards, under the overall command of Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Rodhouse.

The spokesman added: “Whilst we are not prepared to give a running commentary on any ongoing live investigation, as Operations Midland and Fairbank have progressed officers identified a number of people and locations that were common to both inquiries.

“It is therefore operationally important to have the same officer in charge of these inquiries. This team will also be responsible for the preparatory work required to support the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.”

Scotland Yard announced last month it was setting up a specific team in response to the growing demands of a number of historical abuse inquiries.

It is expected to comprise about 90 staff, with some in place already, Scotland Yard said at the time.

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