Alleged child abuse victims do not want ‘any innocent person to be pilloried’
Alleged child abuse victims do not want “any innocent person to be pilloried, let alone convicted”, a campaigner has said.
Founder of The National Association for People Abused in Childhood, Peter Saunders called for a line to be drawn under Operation Midland so that police can continue to go after child abusers.
He said: “From a victim, survivor point of view I hope that there is a line drawn under that and we now allow the police to go after abusers, helping support survivors of these crimes and we don’t spend too much time dwelling on something that went wrong.
“Nobody, least of all victims or survivors, would want any innocent person to be pilloried let alone convicted. We do have an issue that many survivors are delicate, hurting people.
“The initial investigation and initial accusations obviously carried enough credibility and weight that the police felt justified in launching an investigation. Where they made an error was to refer to somebody’s testimony as ‘credible and true’. That was very, very unfortunate.”
An NSPCC spokesman said: “This police operation has been at the centre of huge controversy with suspects and their families often under great pressure. Being accused of one of the most heinous crimes on the statute book obviously casts a dark shadow over those at the centre of such claims.
“It’s vital that child sexual abuse allegations are fully investigated by police with an open-minded approach.
“Whilst many cases are extremely complex, swift resolutions with charges being brought or the accused told they will not be prosecuted is in the interest of all parties.
“It has taken many years for the public to believe that child abuse is a prolific problem but with disproportionate attention given to some cases over others there is a danger the progress that has been made will be tragically undermined.
“Amidst all of the inevitable blame and counter blame as this operation ends we mustn’t forget the victims of sexual abuse who will have suffered life-damaging experiences and, in many instances, are still seeking justice.”
John Mann MP has said he is “not at all surprised” the police operation was shut down and said he will not relent in his campaign on child abuse.
The Labour MP for Bassetlaw, who met with Scotland Yard to help with the investigation and gave evidence in related cases, said: “I am not at all surprised that Operation Midland has been closed down… The only apology due is from those who deny that there is a problem with child abuse.”
In reference to former Tory MP Harvey Proctor demanding three politicians, including Mr Mann, apologise and Scotland Yard face an inquiry over their handling of child abuse allegations that implicated him, Mr Mann said: “Where I do agree with Mr Proctor, is that it is, and was, in my view inappropriate to name him or others without charges being laid… Will I be apologising as Proctor asks? No. Will I be relenting on campaigning on child abuse? No.”
The MP also said he did not discuss matters with the witness Nick or send evidence to the Midland investigation.
Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk, who helped to expose his predecessor Sir Cyril Smith as a child abuser, said a Westminster network should not be dismissed.
He said: “After a member of my staff spoke with Nick, I concluded that he was not a reliable witness and I decided not to pursue his case.
“But there can be absolutely no doubt that abuse of children was taking place in and around Parliament and we should not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
“We know this because of the overwhelming evidence against Cyril Smith and the serious allegations made against both Lord Janner and Sir Peter Morrison. We also know that these perpetrators often operate within networks.”
He added that, despite operational errors, Operation Midland was a worthwhile exercise and evidence will be passed to the ongoing Goddard Inquiry.
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2016, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) Stefan Rousseau / PA Wire.
