Inquiry To Examine Claims Of Abuse By Cyril Smith In Rochdale

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41547471

Smith to be investigated, at last. Not before time.

[Gromit]

Waste of time and money.

[Gromit]

// In 2012, following allegations of child abuse, the Crown Prosecution Service formally admitted Smith should have been charged with the sexual abuse of boys during his lifetime. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the boys "were victims of physical and sexual abuse" by Smith. In November 2012, GMP Assistant Chief Constable Steve Heywood said there was "overwhelming evidence" that young boys were sexually and physically abused by Smith. In April 2014, it was reported that there had been 144 complaints against Smith from victims as young as eight, but attempts to prosecute him had always been blocked. Public authorities including Rochdale Council, the police and intelligence services have been implicated in covering up Smith's crimes. In 2015, it emerged that Smith had been arrested in the early 1980s in relation to these offences, but a high level cover-up reportedly led to him being released within hours, the evidence destroyed and the investigating officers prevented from discussing the matter under the Official Secrets Act. //

[mikey4444]

Gromit.......if you were one of those boys that Smith abused, and had been consistently disbelieved, would you now be saying that an investigation would be a waste of time and money ?

I don't recall anybody saying that the Savile investigation was a waste of time and money....do you ?

[fiction-factory]

My interpretation is that the police enquiry was completed a few years ago whereas this enquiry is a general one into child abuse and will look at the Smith cases as part of this to see if there were institutional failings and lessons that can be learnt

[Tilly2]

There are always 'lessons to be learned' but it goes on and on.

[mikey4444]

FF....this is what it says in the link ::::

"The national inquiry will investigate an alleged failure to prosecute the late Liberal Democrat MP Cyril Smith"

Its now common knowledge that Smith was an active paedophile. What the Enquiry should be able to tell us is why he was never prosecuted, and what lessons we can learn for the future.

[fiction-factory]

Exactly. It's about learning lessons aand hopefully making sure cases like this don' slip through the net again. But there will not be a police prosecution now- he's dead and can't defend himself

[fiction-factory]

I think they may struggle to investigate why prosecutors did not pursue a prosecution in 1970 after allegations of abuse in the 1960s. I'm not sure many of those involved in the decision will be around to give evidence and memeories may ahve faded.

[mikey4444]

FF...there shouldn't be that difficulty in investigating why the Police didn't act properly in the 1990's.

These boys need to be believed.

[fiction-factory]

I'm not sure they'll be reopening those cases Mikey

[mikey4444]

FF.....it would be too much to hope, that the individual abuse cases would be re-investigated.

But I repeat....that is not what the Enquiry says that it will do....It will investigate why he was not prosecuted properly at the time.

I haven't mentioned his book for a few years, but its still worth picking up a copy from your Library :::

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/10796249/Smile-for-the-Camera-The-Double-Life-of-Cyril-Smith-by-Simon-Danczuk-and-Matthew-Baker-review.html

[youngmafbog]

These historical cases are a complete and utter waste of time and money as Gromit points out inthe first post especially when it has been investigated before. No prosecutio will take place - he's dead, and all you can do is smear a name without trial totally against British justice.

Far better to spend the money tracking those who are currently abusing and bang them up. For some reason they dont seem so keen, probably because it is easier than knowing you will never have to find sufficient evidence to prosecute.

[mikey4444]

YMB....you seem not to understand the purpose of the Enquiry ::::

https://www.iicsa.org.uk/

It is not to prosecute anybody, This is its stated aim ::

"The Inquiry offers an unprecedented opportunity to examine the extent to which institutions and organisations in England and Wales have taken seriously their responsibility to protect children"

If we don't learn by our historical mistakes, we are condemned to continue to make the same mistakes for ever more.

I am not satisfied that current abuse of children is being taken seriously, as more recent events in Rochdale have proved.

[youngmafbog]

Oh, I understand it ok.

I alos understand this 'jolly' becasue that is all it will end up as, will take funds from fighting and removing current day scum.

When we have rounded up all we have and imported then I am happy for historical to be looked at. Until then lets clear up todays mess and stop more kids being deadfully abused.

[kvalidir]

So if your child had been raped in 1990 and that was still having a dreadful effect ion them YMB, you'd be happy for the Police to close the case and just concentrate on issuing parking tickets now or whatever the hell it is they are supposed to actually do? You wouldn't want the person held to account who decided not to prosecute their rapist and thus ensure that in the future all people in that position of power are not more careful about what they decide not to do? What a strange person.

[mikey4444]

YMB...there is no need whatsoever for the Enquiry to take funds away from other areas of Policing. There is plenty of money available for both to happen.

I agree that we should be investigating current sexual abuse. I have never been convinced that all the institutions, where abuse usually occurs have done anything like enough to stop it happening in the present and the future, as can be witnessed by ready regular reports in the media of fresh allegations. Hardly a day goes by without someone being arrested and charged, but these may be the tip of the iceberg.

How many people are not being exposed because of the influence brought by others around them, and by the people in power, because that is exactly what happened in the case of Smith.

[naomi24]

kvalidir, I don't think you read YMB's post properly. He said "Until then lets clear up todays mess and stop more kids being deadfully abused." No mention of parking tickets.

[mikey4444]

Thanks 10c....I must remember to record.