16.10.2014
Norfolk Police Chief Constable Simon Bailey, who is the national lead officer for child protection and abuse investigation, said the scale of the abuse scandal is likely to be much greater than initially thought, as tens of thousands of victims of the crime come forward each year.
Speaking to the Guardian, he said the sexual abuse of children had “for too long been a hidden crime”. He added that investigations into the way police forces around the country have handled allegations of sexual abuse could see “many more Rotherhams come to light”.
He also called on those in positions of responsibility, such as health workers and teachers, to look out for signs of possible sexual exploitation and report their concerns to the relevant authorities.
More Cases Of Widespread Sexual Exploitation Of Children May Come To Light
A leading police officer has claimed there could be “many more” child sex abuse cases, similar to those uncovered in Rotherham recently, where at least 1,400 children were victims of sexual exploitation over a long period of time.Norfolk Police Chief Constable Simon Bailey, who is the national lead officer for child protection and abuse investigation, said the scale of the abuse scandal is likely to be much greater than initially thought, as tens of thousands of victims of the crime come forward each year.
Speaking to the Guardian, he said the sexual abuse of children had “for too long been a hidden crime”. He added that investigations into the way police forces around the country have handled allegations of sexual abuse could see “many more Rotherhams come to light”.
He also called on those in positions of responsibility, such as health workers and teachers, to look out for signs of possible sexual exploitation and report their concerns to the relevant authorities.
Our child abuse solicitors are committed to pursuing cases to the best possible outcome, without causing any additional psychological trauma to those affected. Call 0370 1500 100 to talk confidentially to someone about making a claim or visit our Abuse & Criminal Injury Claims page for more information.
Expert Opinion
The revelations related to Rotherham shocked the country and it is extremely troubling to hear that similar events may have taken place in other towns and cities around the UK. <br/> <br/>"It is vital that the serious failings brought to light in the wake of the Rotherham report and any future problems of a similar nature are used to review the policies and processes in place within local authorities to ensure that safeguarding systems are working effectively to protect young people in their communities. <br/> <br/>"It is vital that children affected by such issues in other locations across the country are reassured that their voices will be heard if they come forward and authorities will take any allegations raised seriously.” Tracey Storey - Partner
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