Menu
03/03/2015
Council And Police Apologise Over Child Sex Abuse In Oxford
A Serious Case Review into child sex abuse in Oxford has revealed many failures by the police and social services.
The review found that the exploitation could have been identified earlier and that errors were made.
Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Sara Thornton said: "The Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board has today published its independent Serious Case Review into Child Sexual Exploitation within Oxfordshire. We have contributed fully to the review and accept its findings.
"The independent review highlighted that agencies including Thames Valley Police could have identified the exploitation between 2004 and 2010 earlier than it did and many errors were made.
"The review acknowledges that we have been willing to learn and change.
"We have examined what went wrong and we are doing all that we can to put things right.
"After the 2013 trial, I personally apologised to the victims and their families for not identifying the systematic nature of the abuse sooner, that we were too reliant on victims supporting criminal proceedings and that it took too long to bring the offenders to justice.
"I want to reiterate that apology today.
"The Force has made significant progress in the way we prevent, identify, disrupt and investigate Child Sexual Exploitation."
The serious case review found that more than 300 young people may have suffered grooming and abuse or were at risk of becoming victims between 1999 and 2014.
Oxfordshire County Council has also issued an apology after the multi-agency child protection system failed to prevent horrific abuse of six girls.
Jim Leivers, Oxfordshire County Council's Director for Children, Education and Families, said: "Like the whole community we are horrified at what happened in Oxford. We fully accept that we made many mistakes and missed opportunities to stop the abuse.
"After the trial, the council apologised to the girls for not stopping their abuse sooner, and I do so unreservedly again today. They suffered dreadfully at the hands of these violent men, and despite many attempts we failed to keep them safe while they were in our care.
"Since then we have been determined to make improvements and have worked hard to ensure that everything possible is done to make children safer in Oxfordshire.
"We are totally committed to tackling this abuse and the county council has already implemented all the recommendations for improvement, which the report acknowledges."
(CD)
The review found that the exploitation could have been identified earlier and that errors were made.
Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Sara Thornton said: "The Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board has today published its independent Serious Case Review into Child Sexual Exploitation within Oxfordshire. We have contributed fully to the review and accept its findings.
"The independent review highlighted that agencies including Thames Valley Police could have identified the exploitation between 2004 and 2010 earlier than it did and many errors were made.
"The review acknowledges that we have been willing to learn and change.
"We have examined what went wrong and we are doing all that we can to put things right.
"After the 2013 trial, I personally apologised to the victims and their families for not identifying the systematic nature of the abuse sooner, that we were too reliant on victims supporting criminal proceedings and that it took too long to bring the offenders to justice.
"I want to reiterate that apology today.
"The Force has made significant progress in the way we prevent, identify, disrupt and investigate Child Sexual Exploitation."
The serious case review found that more than 300 young people may have suffered grooming and abuse or were at risk of becoming victims between 1999 and 2014.
Oxfordshire County Council has also issued an apology after the multi-agency child protection system failed to prevent horrific abuse of six girls.
Jim Leivers, Oxfordshire County Council's Director for Children, Education and Families, said: "Like the whole community we are horrified at what happened in Oxford. We fully accept that we made many mistakes and missed opportunities to stop the abuse.
"After the trial, the council apologised to the girls for not stopping their abuse sooner, and I do so unreservedly again today. They suffered dreadfully at the hands of these violent men, and despite many attempts we failed to keep them safe while they were in our care.
"Since then we have been determined to make improvements and have worked hard to ensure that everything possible is done to make children safer in Oxfordshire.
"We are totally committed to tackling this abuse and the county council has already implemented all the recommendations for improvement, which the report acknowledges."
(CD)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
29 October 2013
Ex-Councillor Jailed For Possession Of Child Abuse Images
Former leader of Kingston Borough Council, Derek Osbourne, has been sentenced to two years in jail after pleading guilty to 17 charges of possessing and distributing child abuse images. The 59-year-old admitted downloading nearly 2,850 images and 293 videos of child abuse.
Ex-Councillor Jailed For Possession Of Child Abuse Images
Former leader of Kingston Borough Council, Derek Osbourne, has been sentenced to two years in jail after pleading guilty to 17 charges of possessing and distributing child abuse images. The 59-year-old admitted downloading nearly 2,850 images and 293 videos of child abuse.
31 July 2015
Man Jailed For Job Interview Rape
A 39-year-old man who raped a man during a job interview has been jailed for six years. Sebastian Szerer, of Alexander Road, Wimbledon, was convicted of one count of rape at the Old Bailey and sentenced to six years in jail on Thursday, 30 July.
Man Jailed For Job Interview Rape
A 39-year-old man who raped a man during a job interview has been jailed for six years. Sebastian Szerer, of Alexander Road, Wimbledon, was convicted of one count of rape at the Old Bailey and sentenced to six years in jail on Thursday, 30 July.
26 October 2015
Witnesses Sought To Alleged Wimbledon Rape
Police have appealed for witnesses following an alleged rape in Wimbledon in the early hours of Sunday morning. Officers were called at approximately 02:00 on Sunday, 25 October, by the victim, a 34-year-old woman, who stated she had been attacked 30 minutes earlier in Dundonald Recreation Ground, Dundonald Road.
Witnesses Sought To Alleged Wimbledon Rape
Police have appealed for witnesses following an alleged rape in Wimbledon in the early hours of Sunday morning. Officers were called at approximately 02:00 on Sunday, 25 October, by the victim, a 34-year-old woman, who stated she had been attacked 30 minutes earlier in Dundonald Recreation Ground, Dundonald Road.
13 October 2015
Man Jailed For Further 17 Years Over New Historical Child Abuse Charges
A Plymouth man has been jailed for a further 17 years over historic child abuse charges, following a trial at Plymouth Crown Court. Hinton Sheryn was found guilty of 18 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency with children dating back to the 1970s and 80s, and sentenced to 17 years in jail.
Man Jailed For Further 17 Years Over New Historical Child Abuse Charges
A Plymouth man has been jailed for a further 17 years over historic child abuse charges, following a trial at Plymouth Crown Court. Hinton Sheryn was found guilty of 18 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency with children dating back to the 1970s and 80s, and sentenced to 17 years in jail.
13 October 2015
Police Hunt Man Who Skipped Bail On Indecent Images Charges
Police have appealed for help in tracing 59-year-old Ali Hasan Soyer, who failed to appear for bail after he was arrested on suspicion of possessing/making indecent images of children. Soyer is wanted for questioning by officers from the Met's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command.
Police Hunt Man Who Skipped Bail On Indecent Images Charges
Police have appealed for help in tracing 59-year-old Ali Hasan Soyer, who failed to appear for bail after he was arrested on suspicion of possessing/making indecent images of children. Soyer is wanted for questioning by officers from the Met's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Rain clearing away east by early evening with some clear spells but a few showers likely to affect the North coast and other areas towards dawn, remaining breezy and mild overnight. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
