Council probe after judge concludes ‘high degree of probability’ man abused stepchildren
An investigation will be launched after a senior family court judge concluded that a bar worker who was not prosecuted had sexually abused his two stepchildren.
Mr Justice Peter Jackson, who had been asked to make findings of fact by social workers with child welfare responsibilities, said he was satisfied to a ”very high degree of probability” that the man had abused the youngsters – a girl and boy both in their teens.
The judge, who sits in the Family Division of the High Court, analysed the case at a private family court hearing in Preston, Lancashire.
He raised concerns in a ruling published on January 13 – saying statutory agencies had not protected the teenagers despite ”clear warning signs”.
He said the actions of police during one stage of investigations could ”only be described as cack-handed”.
And he said a social work assessment of allegations made by the girl had been ”superficial and inadequate”.
No-one involved was identified and the judge did not say which police force had investigated.
But he said the local authority involved was Wigan Council (pictured) – which is based in Greater Manchester.
Wigan Council chief executive Donna Hall said a local safeguarding board – made up of representatives of agencies involved with child welfare – would investigate.
“Wigan’s independent Safeguarding Children Board will be undertaking a thorough investigation into what went wrong,” she said.
“The judge has quite rightly highlighted how we and the police need to interview together and share data immediately to act quicker to protect vulnerable young people.”
She added: “We are providing specialist support to the family and have put in place immediate changes to ensure council and police staff act as a team.”
Two police forces – Lancashire Police and Greater Manchester Police – cover the region. Neither has commented on the case.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said last week that Mr Justice Jackson had been asked to make findings on a balance of probabilities – not on a beyond-reasonable-doubt criminal basis.
”The investigation of criminal allegations of this kind are a matter for the police,” he said.
”When the police pass files to the CPS, all charging decisions are made in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.”
He added: ”It should also be noted that fact-finding hearings in the family court operate with a lower standard of proof to the criminal court.”
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