Hundreds of police in England and Wales accused of sexual abuse | UK news

Hundreds of police officers are being accused of sexually abusing victims and suspects in what a senior police watchdog has called “the most serious corruption issue facing the service”.

Forces across England and Wales received 436 allegations of abuse of power for sexual gain against 306 police officers, 20 police community support officers and eight staff in the two years to March but inspectors believe the problem is even more prevalent than the numbers suggest.

Despite the large numbers, there is evidence that only 40 officers or staff have been dismissed for abusing authority for sexual gain in a similar period.

Vulnerable individuals, including domestic abuse victims, alcohol and drug addicts, sex workers and arrested suspects were among those targeted by officers and staff, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) said.

Victim groups have said the findings are “deeply concerning” and involved some of the most vulnerable people in society.

Mike Cunningham, inspector of constabulary and former chief constable of Staffordshire police, said: “This is the most serious corruption issue facing the service. What can be worse than a guardian abusing the trust and confidence of an abused person? There can be no greater violation of public trust.”

“It is probably more likely the problem is more serious than the numbers reported back to us,” he added.

“In many cases the victims are vulnerable people. They are victims of domestic abuse, they’re victims who might have been arrested and they have drug or alcohol dependency. It is an exploitation of power where the guardian becomes the abuser.”

One of the most high-profile cases of police officers abusing their power in recent history was that of Stephen Mitchell, who was jailed for life in 2011 for raping and sexually assaulting vulnerable women he had arrested.

Mitchell, who was a constable with Northumbria police, abused heroin addicts, shoplifters and a disabled teenager by offering them help while in custody, then demanding sexual favours afterwards.

Earlier this year, DS Robert Dawson, a Metropolitan police officer who had sex with a vulnerable alleged rape victim, was formally dismissed from the force. A tribunal heard that in 2010, while investigating an allegation of serious sexual assault, Dawson engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with the victim.

PC Simon Salway, who had sex with vulnerable witnesses and victims of crime, and fathered a child with one of the women he exploited, was found guilty of six charges of misconduct in a public office at Luton crown court last year.

HMIC found that more than a third (39%) of the allegations of abuse of authority for sexual gain involved victims of domestic abuse. As part of its research the inspectorate carried out an online survey of domestic abuse practitioners between July and August. Sixty-eight practitioners (16%) of the 414 who took part said victims of domestic abuse had disclosed that an officer or member of police staff had abused their authority to exploit them or develop an inappropriate relationship with them.

The chief executive of the domestic violence charity Refuge, Sandra Horley, said: “Widespread reports of police officers exploiting women for sexual gain … are horrific â€" but unsurprising.

“Refuge is glad HMIC’s report has shone a light on this issue, following a consultation with domestic violence practitioners including our frontline staff. The police are meant to protect the public from harm; how can women be expected to report their abuse, if they fear the police will abuse them all over again? Women have the right to safety and protection.

“Refuge commends the work HMIC has already done in improving the police response to domestic violence; we hope this report will mean an end to what is an appalling abuse of power.”

Mark Castle, chief executive of the independent charity Victim Support, said: “These allegations are deeply concerning. The victims involved are some of the most vulnerable people in our society, who have been exploited by the people they should be able to trust the most, the police.

“In order to maintain public confidence in the police it’s critical that forces recognise this behaviour as the serious corruption that it is and report all cases to the IPCC to ensure that they are thoroughly and robustly investigated.”

The HMIC findings formed part of a broader inspection of police legitimacy, which concluded victims’ satisfaction with the way they were treated by police remained high. The investigation was ordered by the then home secretary, Theresa May.

But the inspectorate said forces still needed to become more proactive in rooting out officers and staff abusing power for sexual gain. This could involve profiling officers to single out those who might be likely to commit such abuse.

Cunningham said one of the reasons the inspectorate believed the figures belied a greater problem was that forces in England and Wales did not have a consistent and coherent approach to tackling the problem.

Not all forces class the abuse of authority for sexual gain as a serious corruption issue, which HMIC says they should. This would mean any allegation would be automatically referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) for investigation.

HMIC was only able to find 40 cases on the national disapproved register in which officers or staff were dismissed for abusing power for sexual gain during the period in which more than 400 allegations were received.

“What’s less clear is what’s happening with those allegations, how those allegations are being pursued, how they translate into gross misconduct hearings and sackings,” Cunningham said.

HMIC said the problem remained despite recommendations in a 2012 IPCC report on the issue, which appear to have not been acted on.

In her speech to the Police Federation conference earlier this year, May said: “We know of officers who develop inappropriate relationships with victims of domestic abuse. They have ignored their professional duty and their moral responsibility, and instead abused their position of power to exploit victims. We do not know the true scale of this, but everyone in this room will know it goes on far more than we might care to admit.”

"

| Hundreds | police | England | Wales | accused | sexual | abuse | news | officers | being | sexually | abusing | victims | suspects | what | senior | watchdog | called | “the | most | serious | corruption | issue | facing | service” | p> Forces | across | received | allegations | power | gain | against | community | support | eight | staff | years | March | inspectors | believe | problem | even | more | prevalent | than | numbers | suggest | p> Despite | large | there | evidence | that | only | have | been | dismissed | authority | similar | period | p> Vulnerable | individuals | including | domestic | alcohol | drug | addicts | workers | arrested | were | among | those | targeted | Majesty’s | Inspectorate | Constabulary | (HMIC) | said | p> Victim | groups | findings | “deeply | concerning” | involved | some | vulnerable | people | society | p> Mike | Cunningham | inspector | constabulary | former | chief | constable | Staffordshire | said: | “This | service | What | worse | guardian | trust | confidence | abused | person | There | greater | violation | public | ”< | p> “It | probably | likely | reported | back | added | p> “In | many | cases | They | they’re | might | they | dependency | exploitation | where | becomes | abuser | p> One | high | profile | their | recent | history | Stephen | Mitchell | jailed | life | 2011< | raping | assaulting | women | p> Mitchell | with | Northumbria | heroin | shoplifters | disabled | teenager | offering | them | help | while | custody | then | demanding | favours | afterwards | p> Earlier | this | year | Robert | Dawson | Metropolitan | officer | alleged | rape | victim | formally | from | force | tribunal | heard | 2010 | investigating | allegation | assault | engaged | inappropriate | relationship | victim< | p> PC | Simon | Salway | witnesses | crime | fathered | child | exploited | found | guilty | charges | misconduct | office< | Luton | crown | court | last | p> HMIC | third | (39%) | part | research | inspectorate | carried | online | survey | practitioners | between | July | August | Sixty | (16%) | took | disclosed | member | exploit | develop | p> The | executive | violence | charity | Refuge | Sandra | Horley | “Widespread | reports | exploiting | horrific | unsurprising | p> “Refuge | glad | HMIC’s | report | shone | light | following | consultation | frontline | meant | protect | harm; | expected | fear | will | over | again | Women | right | safety | protection | commends | work | HMIC | already | done | improving | response | violence; | hope | mean | appalling | p> Mark | Castle | independent | Victim | Support | “These | deeply | concerning | should | able | order | maintain | it’s | critical | forces | recognise | behaviour | IPCC | ensure | thoroughly | robustly | investigated | formed | broader | inspection | legitimacy | which | concluded | victims’ | satisfaction | treated | remained | investigation | ordered | home | secretary | Theresa | May< | p> But | still | needed | become | proactive | rooting | This | could | involve | profiling | single | commit | such | p> Cunningham | reasons | believed | figures | belied | consistent | coherent | approach | tackling | p> Not | class | says | would | automatically | referred | Independent | Police< | Complaints | Commission | (IPCC) | find | national | disapproved | register | during | p> “What’s | less | clear | what’s | happening | pursued | translate | into | gross | hearings | sackings | despite | recommendations | 2012 | appear | acted | p> In | speech | Police | Federation | conference | earlier | “We | know | relationships | ignored | professional | duty | moral | responsibility | instead | position | true | scale | everyone | room | goes | care | admit | p> |

Thank Very Much for Read this Blog

Hundreds of police in England and Wales accused of sexual abuse | UK news

Hundreds of police officers are being accused of sexually abusing victims and suspects in what a senior police watchdog has called “the most serious corruption issue facing the service”.

Forces across England and Wales received 436 allegations of abuse of power for sexual gain against 306 police officers, 20 police community support officers and eight staff in the two years to March but inspectors believe the problem is even more prevalent than the numbers suggest.

Despite the large numbers, there is evidence that only 40 officers or staff have been dismissed for abusing authority for sexual gain in a similar period.

Vulnerable individuals, including domestic abuse victims, alcohol and drug addicts, sex workers and arrested suspects were among those targeted by officers and staff, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) said.

Victim groups have said the findings are “deeply concerning” and involved some of the most vulnerable people in society.

Mike Cunningham, inspector of constabulary and former chief constable of Staffordshire police, said: “This is the most serious corruption issue facing the service. What can be worse than a guardian abusing the trust and confidence of an abused person? There can be no greater violation of public trust.”

“It is probably more likely the problem is more serious than the numbers reported back to us,” he added.

“In many cases the victims are vulnerable people. They are victims of domestic abuse, they’re victims who might have been arrested and they have drug or alcohol dependency. It is an exploitation of power where the guardian becomes the abuser.”

One of the most high-profile cases of police officers abusing their power in recent history was that of Stephen Mitchell, who was jailed for life in 2011 for raping and sexually assaulting vulnerable women he had arrested.

Mitchell, who was a constable with Northumbria police, abused heroin addicts, shoplifters and a disabled teenager by offering them help while in custody, then demanding sexual favours afterwards.

Earlier this year, DS Robert Dawson, a Metropolitan police officer who had sex with a vulnerable alleged rape victim, was formally dismissed from the force. A tribunal heard that in 2010, while investigating an allegation of serious sexual assault, Dawson engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with the victim.

PC Simon Salway, who had sex with vulnerable witnesses and victims of crime, and fathered a child with one of the women he exploited, was found guilty of six charges of misconduct in a public office at Luton crown court last year.

HMIC found that more than a third (39%) of the allegations of abuse of authority for sexual gain involved victims of domestic abuse. As part of its research the inspectorate carried out an online survey of domestic abuse practitioners between July and August. Sixty-eight practitioners (16%) of the 414 who took part said victims of domestic abuse had disclosed that an officer or member of police staff had abused their authority to exploit them or develop an inappropriate relationship with them.

The chief executive of the domestic violence charity Refuge, Sandra Horley, said: “Widespread reports of police officers exploiting women for sexual gain … are horrific â€" but unsurprising.

“Refuge is glad HMIC’s report has shone a light on this issue, following a consultation with domestic violence practitioners including our frontline staff. The police are meant to protect the public from harm; how can women be expected to report their abuse, if they fear the police will abuse them all over again? Women have the right to safety and protection.

“Refuge commends the work HMIC has already done in improving the police response to domestic violence; we hope this report will mean an end to what is an appalling abuse of power.”

Mark Castle, chief executive of the independent charity Victim Support, said: “These allegations are deeply concerning. The victims involved are some of the most vulnerable people in our society, who have been exploited by the people they should be able to trust the most, the police.

“In order to maintain public confidence in the police it’s critical that forces recognise this behaviour as the serious corruption that it is and report all cases to the IPCC to ensure that they are thoroughly and robustly investigated.”

The HMIC findings formed part of a broader inspection of police legitimacy, which concluded victims’ satisfaction with the way they were treated by police remained high. The investigation was ordered by the then home secretary, Theresa May.

But the inspectorate said forces still needed to become more proactive in rooting out officers and staff abusing power for sexual gain. This could involve profiling officers to single out those who might be likely to commit such abuse.

Cunningham said one of the reasons the inspectorate believed the figures belied a greater problem was that forces in England and Wales did not have a consistent and coherent approach to tackling the problem.

Not all forces class the abuse of authority for sexual gain as a serious corruption issue, which HMIC says they should. This would mean any allegation would be automatically referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) for investigation.

HMIC was only able to find 40 cases on the national disapproved register in which officers or staff were dismissed for abusing power for sexual gain during the period in which more than 400 allegations were received.

“What’s less clear is what’s happening with those allegations, how those allegations are being pursued, how they translate into gross misconduct hearings and sackings,” Cunningham said.

HMIC said the problem remained despite recommendations in a 2012 IPCC report on the issue, which appear to have not been acted on.

In her speech to the Police Federation conference earlier this year, May said: “We know of officers who develop inappropriate relationships with victims of domestic abuse. They have ignored their professional duty and their moral responsibility, and instead abused their position of power to exploit victims. We do not know the true scale of this, but everyone in this room will know it goes on far more than we might care to admit.”

"

| Hundreds | police | England | Wales | accused | sexual | abuse | news | officers | being | sexually | abusing | victims | suspects | what | senior | watchdog | called | “the | most | serious | corruption | issue | facing | service” | p> Forces | across | received | allegations | power | gain | against | community | support | eight | staff | years | March | inspectors | believe | problem | even | more | prevalent | than | numbers | suggest | p> Despite | large | there | evidence | that | only | have | been | dismissed | authority | similar | period | p> Vulnerable | individuals | including | domestic | alcohol | drug | addicts | workers | arrested | were | among | those | targeted | Majesty’s | Inspectorate | Constabulary | (HMIC) | said | p> Victim | groups | findings | “deeply | concerning” | involved | some | vulnerable | people | society | p> Mike | Cunningham | inspector | constabulary | former | chief | constable | Staffordshire | said: | “This | service | What | worse | guardian | trust | confidence | abused | person | There | greater | violation | public | ”< | p> “It | probably | likely | reported | back | added | p> “In | many | cases | They | they’re | might | they | dependency | exploitation | where | becomes | abuser | p> One | high | profile | their | recent | history | Stephen | Mitchell | jailed | life | 2011< | raping | assaulting | women | p> Mitchell | with | Northumbria | heroin | shoplifters | disabled | teenager | offering | them | help | while | custody | then | demanding | favours | afterwards | p> Earlier | this | year | Robert | Dawson | Metropolitan | officer | alleged | rape | victim | formally | from | force | tribunal | heard | 2010 | investigating | allegation | assault | engaged | inappropriate | relationship | victim< | p> PC | Simon | Salway | witnesses | crime | fathered | child | exploited | found | guilty | charges | misconduct | office< | Luton | crown | court | last | p> HMIC | third | (39%) | part | research | inspectorate | carried | online | survey | practitioners | between | July | August | Sixty | (16%) | took | disclosed | member | exploit | develop | p> The | executive | violence | charity | Refuge | Sandra | Horley | “Widespread | reports | exploiting | horrific | unsurprising | p> “Refuge | glad | HMIC’s | report | shone | light | following | consultation | frontline | meant | protect | harm; | expected | fear | will | over | again | Women | right | safety | protection | commends | work | HMIC | already | done | improving | response | violence; | hope | mean | appalling | p> Mark | Castle | independent | Victim | Support | “These | deeply | concerning | should | able | order | maintain | it’s | critical | forces | recognise | behaviour | IPCC | ensure | thoroughly | robustly | investigated | formed | broader | inspection | legitimacy | which | concluded | victims’ | satisfaction | treated | remained | investigation | ordered | home | secretary | Theresa | May< | p> But | still | needed | become | proactive | rooting | This | could | involve | profiling | single | commit | such | p> Cunningham | reasons | believed | figures | belied | consistent | coherent | approach | tackling | p> Not | class | says | would | automatically | referred | Independent | Police< | Complaints | Commission | (IPCC) | find | national | disapproved | register | during | p> “What’s | less | clear | what’s | happening | pursued | translate | into | gross | hearings | sackings | despite | recommendations | 2012 | appear | acted | p> In | speech | Police | Federation | conference | earlier | “We | know | relationships | ignored | professional | duty | moral | responsibility | instead | position | true | scale | everyone | room | goes | care | admit | p> |

Thank You So Much for Visiting this Blog

British police say soccer child sex scandal may affect 98 clubs

LONDON British police investigating allegations of widespread child sex abuse at soccer clubs dating back to the 1970s said on Friday they had identified 83 potential suspects and possible links to 98 clubs, including some from the Premier League. Police forces across the country launched inquiries after former player Andy Woodward revealed he had been abused as a boy by a youth team coach, prompting other ex-professionals to come forward with more allegations. The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said 639 referrals had been made to officers from a helpline set up by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children charity, involving about 350 potential victims. "Allegations received by police forces across the country are being swiftly acted upon," said Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the NPCC lead for child protection. "We are also liaising closely with the Football Association to ensure all relevant information they hold is shared to inform investigations moving forward." The harrowing tales of abuse suffered by the former players, some of whom have broken down in tears in television interviews, have shocked Britain. They raise questions about the scale of the problem, how much clubs and soccer authorities knew, and whether they tried to cover it up. English soccer's governing body, the Football Association, has launched an internal review into what it admitted could be one of the sport's biggest crises, and promised to fully publicize its findings. The NPCC said not all the 98 clubs whose names were mentioned to the police were under investigation. "The figure spans all tiers of football, from premier clubs through to amateur," it said in a statement. It added that 98 percent of the victims were male, aged between seven and 20 at the time. The soccer abuse revelations are the latest in a series of pedophile scandals to have hit Britain in recent years. Victims said the scale of wrongdoing was likely to be worse than in the case of TV star Jimmy Savile, a cigar-chomping BBC television host who abused hundreds of youngsters over six decades until his death in 2011. (Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) Next In Sports News > Chiefs KO Raiders, seize control of AFC West (The Sports Xchange) - The Kansas City Chiefs took control of the AFC West with a 21-13 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Thursday in chilly weather conditions, > Cardinals set to sign Fowler: MLB The St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a free agent deal to sign former Chicago Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler, Major League Baseball reported on its website. > Russia's $30 million center for acrobatic rock'n'roll, sport of Putin's daughter MOSCOW Russia is building a $30 million complex for acrobatic rock'n'roll, a niche sport in which President Vladimir Putin's daughter is a leading dancer and has a senior role for development, a Reuters review of public documents has shown. "

| British | police | soccer | child | scandal | affect | clubs | span> LONDON< | span> | investigating | allegations | widespread | abuse | dating | back | 1970s | said | Friday | they | identified | potential | suspects | possible | links | including | some | from | Premier | League | span> Police | forces | across | country | launched | inquiries | after | former | player | Andy | Woodward | revealed | been | abused | youth | team | coach | prompting | other | professionals | come | forward | with | more | The | National | Police | Chiefs | Council | (NPCC) | referrals | made | officers | helpline | Society | Prevention | Cruelty | Children | charity | involving | about | victims | Allegations | received | being | swiftly | acted | upon | Chief | Constable | Simon | Bailey | NPCC | lead | protection | We | also | liaising | closely | Football | Association | ensure | relevant | information | hold | shared | inform | investigations | moving | harrowing | tales | suffered | players | whom | have | broken | down | tears | television | interviews | shocked | Britain | They | raise | questions | scale | problem | much | authorities | knew | whether | tried | cover | English | soccers | governing | body | internal | review | into | what | admitted | could | sports | biggest | crises | promised | fully | publicize | findings | whose | names | were | mentioned | under | investigation | figure | spans | tiers | football | premier | through | amateur | statement | added | that | percent | male | aged | between | seven | time | revelations | latest | series | pedophile | scandals | recent | years | Victims | wrongdoing | likely | worse | than | case | star | Jimmy | Savile | cigar | chomping | host | hundreds | youngsters | over | decades | until | death | 2011 | (Reporting | Michael | Holden; | Editing | Mark | Trevelyan) | Next | Sports | News< | span> Chiefs | Raiders | seize | control | West (The | Xchange) | Kansas | City | took | West | victory | Oakland | Thursday | chilly | weather | conditions | a> Cardinals | sign | Fowler: | MLB The | Louis | Cardinals | agreed | free | agent | deal | Chicago | Cubs | center | fielder | Dexter | Fowler | Major | Baseball | reported | website | a> Russias | million | acrobatic | rocknroll | sport | Putins | daughter MOSCOW | Russia | building | complex | niche | which | President | Vladimir | daughter | leading | dancer | senior | role | development | Reuters | public | documents | shown | < | span>< | span> |

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UK football sex abuse: 83 suspects and 98 clubs involved in inquiry

Story highlights

• 83 suspects in UK sex abuse case
• 98 soccer clubs involved in investigation

The investigation involves all levels of football, from top-level clubs to amateur teams.

Follow @cnnsport

Police forces across the UK continue to receive calls from victims and people offering information. In total, 639 referrals have been received from both the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) helpline and police forces.

Read: Chelsea FC accused of paying child sex abuse victim to keep quiet

Of the victims identified so far, 98% are male and their ages range from seven to 20.

Read: Hundreds come forward to police in sex abuse inquiry

"Allegations received by police forces across the country are being swiftly acted upon," said Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the NPCC's lead for Child Protection.

The investigation began when former professional footballer Andy Woodward became the first to publicly tell his story in November.

Visit cnn.com/football for more news and videos

Fellow lower-league player Steve Walters and ex-England internationals Paul Stewart and David White also came forward soon after, before a hotline was set up for people who were sexually abused while playing football in Britain.

"

| football | abuse: | suspects | clubs | involved | inquiry | Story | highlights< | h3> 83 | abuse | case< | li> 98 | soccer | investigation< | li> < | ul>< | div> < | div> The | investigation | involves | levels | from | level | amateur | teams | div> Follow | @cnnsport< | div> Police | forces | across | continue | receive | calls | victims | people | offering | information | total | referrals | have | been | received | both | NSPCC | (National | Society | Prevention | Cruelty | Children) | helpline | police | div> < | div> Read: | Chelsea | accused | paying | child | victim | keep | quiet< | div> Of | identified | male | their | ages | range | seven | div> Read: | Hundreds | come | forward | inquiry< | div> Allegations | country | being | swiftly | acted | upon | said | Chief | Constable | Simon | Bailey | NPCCs | lead | Child | Protection | div> The | began | when | former | professional | footballer | Andy | Woodward | became | first | publicly | tell | story< | November | div> Visit | more | news | videos< | div> Fellow | lower | league | player | Steve | Walters | England | internationals | Paul | Stewart | David | White | also | came | soon | after | before | hotline | were | sexually | abused< | while | playing | Britain | div> < | div> |

Thank You So Much for Visit this News

UK football sex abuse: 83 suspects and 98 clubs involved in inquiry

Story highlights

• 83 suspects in UK sex abuse case
• 98 soccer clubs involved in investigation

The investigation involves all levels of football, from top-level clubs to amateur teams.

Follow @cnnsport

Police forces across the UK continue to receive calls from victims and people offering information. In total, 639 referrals have been received from both the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) helpline and police forces.

Read: Chelsea FC accused of paying child sex abuse victim to keep quiet

Of the victims identified so far, 98% are male and their ages range from seven to 20.

Read: Hundreds come forward to police in sex abuse inquiry

"Allegations received by police forces across the country are being swiftly acted upon," said Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the NPCC's lead for Child Protection.

The investigation began when former professional footballer Andy Woodward became the first to publicly tell his story in November.

Visit cnn.com/football for more news and videos

Fellow lower-league player Steve Walters and ex-England internationals Paul Stewart and David White also came forward soon after, before a hotline was set up for people who were sexually abused while playing football in Britain.

"

| football | abuse: | suspects | clubs | involved | inquiry | Story | highlights< | h3> 83 | abuse | case< | li> 98 | soccer | investigation< | li> < | ul>< | div> < | div> The | investigation | involves | levels | from | level | amateur | teams | div> Follow | @cnnsport< | div> Police | forces | across | continue | receive | calls | victims | people | offering | information | total | referrals | have | been | received | both | NSPCC | (National | Society | Prevention | Cruelty | Children) | helpline | police | div> < | div> Read: | Chelsea | accused | paying | child | victim | keep | quiet< | div> Of | identified | male | their | ages | range | seven | div> Read: | Hundreds | come | forward | inquiry< | div> Allegations | country | being | swiftly | acted | upon | said | Chief | Constable | Simon | Bailey | NPCCs | lead | Child | Protection | div> The | began | when | former | professional | footballer | Andy | Woodward | became | first | publicly | tell | story< | November | div> Visit | more | news | videos< | div> Fellow | lower | league | player | Steve | Walters | England | internationals | Paul | Stewart | David | White | also | came | soon | after | before | hotline | were | sexually | abused< | while | playing | Britain | div> < | div> |

Thank U Very Much for Read this Blog

Football sex abuse: Met Police launches investigation

Image copyright Thinkstock

The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation into allegations of historical sexual abuse in football at clubs in London.

A dedicated team of officers from the Met's sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse command will work alongside Operation Hydrant.

Hundreds of people have reported abuse to UK police so far, the National Police Chief's Council said.

The Met is not discussing the number of allegations or the clubs involved.

Det Ch Supt Ivan Balhatchet from the Met said the force takes allegations seriously and they "will be dealt with sensitively".

"Anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse, whatever the circumstances, or has any relevant information, should contact their local police or the NSPCC," he added.

Football clubs across the UK have been implicated in a growing number of child sex abuse allegations.

Child sex abuse claims - story so far

The Met's announcement comes as the Football Association has been criticised for "dismissing" concerns about sexual abuse in football when they emerged in the 1990s.

A dedicated football abuse hotline set up by the NSPCC received more than 860 calls since it was set up about two weeks ago.

The phone line is available 24 hours a day on 0800 023 2642.

---

Police forces investigating allegations:

• North Wales
• North Yorkshire
• Dorset
• Staffordshire
• Greater Manchester
• Cambridgeshire
• Hampshire
• Cheshire
• Northumbria
• Metropolitan
• Police Scotland
• Avon and Somerset
• Essex
• Norfolk
• Derbyshire
• Warwickshire
• Devon and Cornwall
• South Wales
• Dyfed-Powys
• PSNI

"

| Football | abuse: | Police | launches | investigation | Image | copyright< | span> | Thinkstock< | Metropolitan | launched | into | allegations | historical | sexual | abuse | football | clubs | London | dedicated | team | officers | from | Mets | offences | exploitation | child | command | will | work | alongside | Operation | Hydrant< | p>Hundreds | people | have | reported | police | National | Chiefs | Council | said | p>The | discussing | number | involved | p>Det | Supt | Ivan | Balhatchet | force | takes | seriously | they | dealt | with | sensitively | p>Anyone | been | victim | whatever | circumstances | relevant | information | should | contact | their | local | NSPCC | added | p>Football | across | implicated | growing | p>Child | claims | story | far< | announcement | comes | Association | criticised | dismissing | concerns< | about | when | emerged | 1990s | hotline | received | more | than | calls | since | weeks | phone | line | available | hours | 0800 | 2642 | p>Police | forces | investigating | allegations:< | p>North | Wales< | li> North | Yorkshire< | li> Dorset< | li> Staffordshire< | li> Greater | Manchester< | li> Cambridgeshire< | li> Hampshire< | li> Cheshire< | li> Northumbria< | li> Metropolitan< | li> Police | Scotland< | li> Avon | Somerset< | li> Essex< | li> Norfolk< | li> Derbyshire< | li> Warwickshire< | li> Devon | Cornwall< | li> South | li> Dyfed | Powys< | li> PSNI< | li> < | ul> |

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British police say soccer child sex scandal may affect 98 clubs

LONDON British police investigating allegations of widespread child sex abuse at soccer clubs dating back to the 1970s said on Friday they had identified 83 potential suspects and possible links to 98 clubs, including some from the Premier League. Police forces across the country launched inquiries after former player Andy Woodward revealed he had been abused as a boy by a youth team coach, prompting other ex-professionals to come forward with more allegations. The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said 639 referrals had been made to officers from a helpline set up by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children charity, involving about 350 potential victims. "Allegations received by police forces across the country are being swiftly acted upon," said Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the NPCC lead for child protection. "We are also liaising closely with the Football Association to ensure all relevant information they hold is shared to inform investigations moving forward." The harrowing tales of abuse suffered by the former players, some of whom have broken down in tears in television interviews, have shocked Britain. They raise questions about the scale of the problem, how much clubs and soccer authorities knew, and whether they tried to cover it up. English soccer's governing body, the Football Association, has launched an internal review into what it admitted could be one of the sport's biggest crises, and promised to fully publicize its findings. The NPCC said not all the 98 clubs whose names were mentioned to the police were under investigation. "The figure spans all tiers of football, from premier clubs through to amateur," it said in a statement. It added that 98 percent of the victims were male, aged between seven and 20 at the time. The soccer abuse revelations are the latest in a series of pedophile scandals to have hit Britain in recent years. Victims said the scale of wrongdoing was likely to be worse than in the case of TV star Jimmy Savile, a cigar-chomping BBC television host who abused hundreds of youngsters over six decades until his death in 2011. (Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) Next In Sports News > Chiefs KO Raiders, seize control of AFC West (The Sports Xchange) - The Kansas City Chiefs took control of the AFC West with a 21-13 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Thursday in chilly weather conditions, > Cardinals set to sign Fowler: MLB The St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a free agent deal to sign former Chicago Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler, Major League Baseball reported on its website. > A $30 million splurge on Putin's daughter's favorite sport MOSCOW Russia is building a $30 million complex for acrobatic rock'n'roll, a niche sport in which President Vladimir Putin's daughter is a leading dancer and has a senior role for development, a Reuters review of public documents has shown. "

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