South Yorkshire Police faces new investigations over Rotherham child abuse scandal
South Yorkshire Police (SYP) now faces ten new investigations into how it handled historic sexual abuse allegations in Rotherham.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched its inquiries after the force referred complaints between July and September this year.
A firm of solicitors submitted the complaints on behalf of women who say SYP failed to protect them from grooming gang abuse when they were children.
The IOPC said the complaints allege the victims were abused by men known to the police “and that SYP failed to carry out sufficient investigative actions and adequately safeguard victim-survivors or act upon information that was provided”.
IOPC director Emily Barry said: “When we published our overarching report in 2022 on the Operation Linden investigations into how South Yorkshire Police handled reports of child sexual exploitation and abuse in Rotherham, we acknowledged there might be further complaints, which is why we have always wanted to ensure victim-survivors felt able to come forward.
“It is entirely understandable that all those affected, as well as the wider public, will have concerns about these further complaints, so it is vital that we ensure they are investigated thoroughly and robustly.”
These latest investigations are separate from the inquiries into allegations of child sexual abuse by former SYP officers, which are being carried out by the National Crime Agency under the IOPC’s direction.
Reacting to the announcement, shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “These cases show that justice is still being denied to victims of some of the most horrific abuse imaginable.
“For decades, young girls were let down by institutions that chose to look the other way.
“Police officers, council officials and prosecutors covered up crimes to protect reputations and avoid community tensions because the perpetrators of these crimes were mainly of Pakistani heritage.
“That is unforgivable.
“And that is why the last Conservative government took action, creating a grooming gangs taskforce which led to the arrest of more than 550 suspects.
“Every officer and official who covered up this scandal must be brought to justice.
“No more excuses, no more delays.
“Four months after finally bowing to pressure and promising an inquiry, the Labour Government still have not even appointed a chair.
“If the Labour Government do not deliver a national inquiry in full, they will be facilitating a cover-up.”
Operation Stovewood, the National Crime Agency’s major investigation into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013, identified more than 1,100 child victims.
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