IOPC issue update on investigation into South Yorkshire Police's handling of child sexual abuse
The policing regulator has issued an update today
The policing regulator has confirmed it now has 24 invesitigations in progress, as it considers South Yorkshire Police's response to historic child sexual abuse in Rotherham.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct or IOPC launched Operation Netton last year, to examine claims the force failed to protect children from abuse.
A dedicated team of 12 investigators is looking back at a range of cases, some of which were reported recently, with a few dating back to the 1980s.
The probe is separate to the joint IOPC and National Crime Agency investigation into several former officers alleged to have been involved in abuse.
Last month it was confirmed a fourth officer had been arrested in connection with historic child sexual offences.
IOPC Director of Engagement Emily Barry said: “Victim-survivors are always at the centre of our investigations and it’s extremely important that they have trust and confidence in the investigation”.
“Every complaint put to us is treated sensitively and the welfare of victim-survivors is always paramount."
"We would like to thank the victim-survivors and everyone affected by our investigations for their patience and co-operation while we continue with this very important work.
“We have informed all parties of our decision to independently investigate these matters and we will ensure complainants are kept informed as the investigations progress.
"We are determined that every investigation is carried out thoroughly and that every available line of enquiry is looked at in detail.”