THOUSANDS of sexual abuse claims in UK schools reported to online campaign, leading to police investigation
27 Mar, 2021 18:47
FILE PHOTO. © Reuters / John Sibley
London’s Metropolitan Police has announced it has opened investigations into alleged sexual abuse cases in British schools, after more than 5,800 incidents were reported to online platform Everyone’s Invited.
Officers have been reviewing anonymous testimonies posted on the website, which collected evidence about “misogyny, harassment, abuse and assault” in UK schools, to “establish” whether any of the victims could be “encouraged” to actually report the crime to law enforcement, the Met Police said in a statement on Friday.
The Met added that it had already received some reports on “specific offenses” currently under investigation. Officers also contacted certain schools named in some of the anonymous testimonies to offer support to potential victims. On Friday, the department held some “detailed” meetings on the issue.
The Met’s lead officer for cases of rape and sexual offence, Detective Superintendent Mel Laremore, called the number of reports published on the website “deeply concerning.” The superintendent also repeatedly stated that the police were ready to offer support to any victim-survivor who may need it, and were working to ensure that anyone willing to report such an offense could do so.
You should be deeply concerned, but you shouldn't be surprised. Surely you've known for years that only a small fraction of child sexual abuse is ever reported. For years the UK has been underestimating the percentage of girls being sexually abused by a considerable margin.
Surely, you know that the easy access to pornography by adolescent boys has contributed immensely to the growing phenomenon of the 'rape culture' in universities and even in high schools. As long as that is allowed to continue, girls will be in ever-increasing danger of abuse and rape.
The police response came a year after the site Everyone’s Invited was created by 22-year-old Soma Sara for students to anonymously report cases of sexual abuse and harassment. Since that time, more than 5,800 accounts have posted there, with the initiative making headlines in some UK media as well as sparking a public debate about what was called a “MeToo” moment for UK schools.
The site’s founder told the BBC earlier that the collected testimonies expose “rape culture and the scale of violence against young people in the UK.” The police said they have been “aware” of the website since March 12.
Some of the allegations concerned private schools, including a number of the UK’s most elite education facilities. Laremore blamed this on the fact that private schools often do not have a formal cooperation network with police, but added that the issue is certainly not limited to just those establishments. The superintendent also said that some 100 educational institutions were explicitly mentioned on the website, which has since stopped publishing school names.
Earlier this week, students at Highgate School – a 456-year-old educational institution considered one of the best private schools in the UK – staged a walk-out in protest against what they called “toxic rape culture.” The protest at the school, which charges fees of £21,600 ($30,000) a year, came after a dossier covering more than 200 testimonies was presented to the school’s governors.
The school administration then appointed a former Court of Appeal judge, Anne Rafferty, to review the cases.
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UK family's horror as evil child killer could be
released from jail in 3 months
..
Dominic McKilligan lured 11-year-old Wesley Neailey to a derelict garage near his home in the Arthur's Hill area of Newcastle
By Sophie Doughty
18:00, 5 MAY 2018
Chronicle Live
Wesley Neailey was just 11 when he was snatched by the twisted pervert, who then killed his victim and dumped his body.
McKilligan was jailed for life after being convicted of the 1998 murder, which sent shockwaves of fear across Tyneside.
But now after serving the 20-year minimum term of his sentence, the killer has applied for parole. And Wesley’s family have been warned he is likely to be released this July.
His mum Liz has exclusively told the Sunday Sun of her fears McKilligan could strike again.
The 53-year-old said: “This has come out of the blue for us. I don’t want him out.
“I don’t want another family going through what we went through. He’s not the type that can change. He is a monster.”
At first Liz thought her son might have just run into some friends.
But as darkness fell she knew something dreadful must have happened to him.
“I had a horrible feeling straight away,” said Liz. “At first I thought he was just playing out with his friends and had lost track of time. But when it started getting dark I knew something was the matter because he wouldn’t put us through that.”
However, Wesley was initially treated as a missing person. In the days that followed Newcastle West End’s community, who knew Wesley well, came together to search for him.
Posters were put up in the windows of homes and shops. And the Sunday Sun even staged a reconstruction of Wesley’s last movements.
Meanwhile Liz, who feared her boy had been abducted, became more and more frustrated. “The police had him down as a ‘runaway’ and this, that and the other. And they thought he was working himself,” said Liz.
“I was told by a young policeman that I was being an ‘over-anxious’ mother’. But I knew my son. We were a very close knit family. I relive those conversations all the time now.
“My hopes started to fade after two days, but I was praying he was still alive. The police had it wrong from the beginning, saying that he was a runaway. That was doing our heads in.
“It wasn’t until 21 days that we got a senior officer on the case and things started picking up.”
Tragically though it was all too late as it would be revealed that Wesley was dead within hours of disappearing.
Detectives began to focus their attentions on Dominic McKilligan, an 18-year-old convicted sex offender from Bournemouth who had been housed in Newcastle after being held at Aycliffe Young People’s Centre in Durham.
When officers searched his flat on Fenham’s Wingrove Road they found a torn-up cheque for £150 made out to Wesley.
McKilligan told police a number of stories in a bid to cover his tracks. However, he eventually took police to a remote spot in Healey, in the Tyne Valley, where he had dumped Wesley’s body. The schoolboy had been strangled.
On July 23, 1999, a jury at Newcastle Crown Court took just two hours 50 minutes to find McKilligan guilty of murder and rape at the end of a three-week trial.
He was jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years.
However, McKilligan later successfully appealed his rape conviction meaning that he will not be on the sex offenders’ register following his release.
The devastated mum-of-two was warned that if successful the killer would be released on July 21.
And the thought of her son’s murderer walking the streets fills Liz with dread. “Twenty years isn’t a punishment for what he has done,” she said.
“The victim’s officer said he’s done his time for his crime and that he’s got a good chance of getting out.
“How many strikes has he got to have. He shouldn’t get a second chance for that. He should spend the rest of his life in jail. But he has been cunning all his life. He’s probably working the system.
“He knows what I look like and what my family looks like, but I don’t know what he looks like now. She said he could come back round here. I could walk past him in the street and not know.
There is more to this story on Chronicle Live.
UK rapist handed 30-year sentence after causing
'dreadful damage' to girl's life
By Ian Johnson Chronicle Live
13:00, 26 FEB 2021
Child rapist David Dibell, 27, has been handed a 30 year sentence at Durham Crown Court (Image: ChronicleLive)
A rapist has been handed a 30-year sentence for the "dreadful damage" he inflicted on his young victim.
David Dibell raped the girl and hit her so badly, she suffered internal injuries which required surgery.
Detectives have now praised the victim's bravery after 27-year-old Dibell was locked up for 24 years, with a six-year extended licence.
Detective Constable Claire Trewick, of Durham Constabulary, said: “This was a truly appalling crime and I am delighted at the lengthy sentence which has been handed down by the court.
"It will give David Dibell many years to think about the dreadful damage he has done to this young girl’s life.
“More importantly, I’d like to praise this brave young girl and her family for having the courage to stand up to this man and bring him to justice – hopefully they can now begin to get on with the long process of rebuilding their lives."
Dibell had denied the string of charges against him.
A jury found Dibell, now of Broadmeadows in Washington, guilty of six charges including rape of a child, sexual assault and GBH (grievous bodily harm) with intent following a trial at Durham Crown Court.
He was sentenced last month for the crimes which took police over a period of ten months.
As well as being jailed, Dibell was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.
Police began an investigation after the girl attended hospital and the extent of her injuries and bruising alerted medical staff. She later revealed what had happened to her to specialist support officers.
Det Con Trewick added: "I would like to say to anyone who is suffering sexual abuse in silence: you are not alone and there is hope: our officers are ready to listen and willing to help.
“I would urge anyone in that situation to have the same courage as this young girl and come forward to us with information and we will take action.”
Anyone who wishes to report sexual abuse should call Durham Constabulary’s Safeguarding teams on 101.
Former Toronto Blue Jays youth baseball instructor
charged with child luring
Bobby Hristova · CBC News ·
Posted: Apr 01, 2021 1:04 PM ET
John Hashimoto, 56, of Hamilton faces a child luring charge and another offence. He formerly worked for the Toronto Blue Jays' youth academy. (johnhashimoto.ca)
A former lead instructor with the Toronto Blue Jays' academy for young players faces two charges involving sexual offences against children.
John Douglas Hashimoto, 56, of Hamilton is charged with luring a child under 16 and an invitation to sexual touching, Halton Regional Police said in a release Thursday.
The release said Hashimoto is with the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Academy, but the MLB team later said in a statement to CBC Hamilton that he's a former employee.
The statement said the organization is "deeply disturbed to learn of the charges against a former seasonal employee, but as this is an ongoing legal matter, we cannot comment further at this time."
The Blue Jays said Hashimoto was a seasonal employee with the youth academy from 2006 until early 2020. Spokesperson Jessica Beard said the organization terminated his contract during the pandemic.
As part of his work, the Blue Jays said, he underwent a criminal record check every other year, and was last cleared in November 2019. The team also said annual mandatory training for its baseball instructors requires staff to not be alone with children and youth participants.
Baseball Canada imposes suspension
The Halton police release said Hashimoto's credentials include being a master coach developer and evaluator with Baseball Canada.
Adam Morissette, spokesperson for Baseball Canada, said the organization is deeply concerned about the allegations and has suspended Hashimoto indefinitely.
"Baseball Canada will fully co-operate with any police investigation and encourage those who may have more information to contact the Halton Police," said a release. "Since this is a criminal investigation, Baseball Canada will not be providing any further comment."
Hashimoto has also been involved with youth baseball in Hamilton, and is a retired teacher with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board.
Police said he used the handle David or David 46 online.
Hamilton school board contacting families
Shawn McKillop, spokesperson for Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB), said the board is troubled by the news.
In an email, McKillop said: "This is a concern with respect to child safety and we are supporting the investigation." He said school communities where the suspect taught will receive a letter "to reinforce the serious nature of the investigation."
The board said he worked at four schools between 1987 to 2019:
Billy Green Elementary School.
Dr. J.E. Davey Elementary School.
Queensdale Elementary School.
Sherwood Secondary School.
"We are sharing widely with these schools (from most recently to first hired at HWDSB) as our effort to support the ongoing investigation if there is anyone with more information," said McKillop.
In a letter to families, the school board also said: "If you are a survivor of child sexual abuse or sexual assault, remember the abuse was not your fault and there is no time limit on reporting the abuse to police."
Police reach out to public for info
Const. Steve Elms, a spokesperson for Halton police, wants anyone who's had contact with the accused in the past several years to contact them.
"We want to be able to provide support for those victims if they choose to come forward, and obviously we would like to be able to pursue more charges," he said. "As a parent myself, you hate seeing this sort of thing any time anybody is in a position of authority over a youth, to see that position of authority being abused. It's a tragic thing."
It's unclear when the investigation started and the allegations first emerged.
Anyone with information should call Det. Todd Martin at 905-825-4747 ext. 8983 or Det. Const. Andrew Hulbert at 905-825-4747 ext. 8974. Both are with the Halton Regional Police Service internet child exploitation unit.
Oxfam suspends 2 aid workers under investigation in DRC
By Clyde Hughes
The Oxfam logo is shown at a store in London on February 14, 2018. The charity said it has suspended two aid workers as part of an investigation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo by Andy Rain/EPA-EFE
April 2 (UPI) -- Officials from the global poverty charity Oxfam suspended two aid workers Friday in connection with an investigation of bullying and sexual misconduct against senior managers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
An Oxfam representative said the investigation into misconduct started in November after allegations were made about abuses of power within the organization. The accusations against the DRC managers included intimidation, death threats, fraud and nepotism.
"The Charity Commission for England and Wales were notified at the start of the investigation and we have kept them informed about its progress," Oxfam said, according to the Evening Standard. "We are acutely aware of our duty to survivors, including in supporting them to speak out safely. We are working hard to conclude the investigation fairly, safely and effectively."
The Charity Commission had found in 2019 that Oxfam had not fully revealed allegations against its staffers in Haiti during its earthquake recovery. Allegations at that time included that Oxfam staff had sexually abused children and safeguards protecting the vulnerable there were not up to par.
Oxfam has worked in the Congo since 1961, focusing on humanitarian projects that included long-term access to clean drinking water.
Russian court fines Twitter for failing to delete banned content
By Don Johnson
The Kremlin is seen in Moscow, Russia. A Russian court said Friday that Twitter must pay for failing to comply with a new law that says certain social media content must be removed. File Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI
April 2 (UPI) -- A Russian court has fined Twitter for refusing to remove content and misinformation that's barred by a new law.
Twitter was ordered to pay a fine of about $117,000 (8.9 million rubles) within 60 days, the Tagansky district court in Moscow said Friday, according to the state-run TASS news agency.
Russian communications regulators said last month they'd slowed Internet speeds for posting photos and videos to Twitter over a complaint concerning banned content.
The Russian government says prohibited content includes matters like suicide, child pornography, drug abuse and encouraging unlawful activity.
The new law took effect in February and requires social networks to identify and block prohibited content. It mandates platforms like Twitter to take immediate action to block access to the content.
About 3,200 posts with "prohibited information" had not been deleted by Twitter, state media watchdog Roskomnadzor said.
Twitter did not immediately respond Friday to the fine.
Warrant served in Banbury area village as part of police operation against online child sexual abuse in Thames Valley
By Matt Elofson, Banbury Guardian
Friday, 2nd April 2021, 1:39 pm
An officer from the TVP Paedophile Online Investigation Team
Thames Valley Police continues to receive referrals from the National Crime Agency and other law enforcement agencies relating to people suspected of accessing child abuse material online.
Thames Valley Police officers carried a month-long operation during March to combat online child sexual abuse, which involved serving warrants as well as carrying out safeguarding visits.
Officers from the force’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT), served the warrants at addresses across the Thames Valley area, arresting people who are believed to be involved in online child sexual abuse and seizing items from their homes.
The TVP press office confirmed at least one warrant was served in the Banbury village of Adderbury.
TVP made 43 referrals with 31 arrests and seized 276 items. Thirty-two children have been safeguarded as a result. The activity has been carried out at residential addresses.
The press office has yet to respond to requests for information on any arrests made in the Banbury area, except to say they're checking on it.
Referrals to TVP from the National Crime Agency have risen by 93 per cent in the past 12 months when compared to the same time period in 2018-2019.
With more and more people currently at home and online due to coronavirus restrictions, the POLIT team has worked to combat those who are looking to exploit this in order to abuse children.
Detective Inspector Jon Axford, of the POLIT team, said: “During the first lockdown last year, there was a well-documented rise in this sort of offending.
“Sadly, we know that there are a number of criminals out there who have tried to take the opportunity afforded to them by the fact that more people are online to sexually exploit children.
“These offenders come from a variety of different backgrounds and situations. Many of them have families of their own, who have no idea whatsoever as to their offending.
“These warrants should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks that this sort of offending is harmless and without consequence. It isn’t. We know exactly who you are, who you are talking to, and we will come to your house and arrest you, in front of your family and loved ones if necessary.
“These warrants are also not a one off. We are constantly monitoring the intelligence we receive and we have an extremely good understanding of who is committing this type of offence.
“Online child sexual abuse causes misery to its victims. The long-term effects of it are horrendous, and can damage people for life. The fact that the abuse is taking place online does not make it any less impactful.
In fact, it can, and has driven kids to suicide.
“The message is clear – if you are online abusing or grooming children, you will be caught, you will go on the Sex Offenders’ Register, and you may go to prison. You could lose your job, your friends and your family and have to live with the stigma of your offending for the rest of your life.”
Thames Valley Police work with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation to prevent online child sexual abuse and support the families of those who are identified as offenders. Their Stop It Now campaign provides free, anonymous and confidential support.
If you are concerned for the safety of a child, call Thames Valley Police on 101, or the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.
If you’re concerned about the sexual behaviour of an adult or a child, call 101 or the Stop it Now helpline on 0808 1000 900.
York Shambles' trader 'That Fudge Guy' caught with
sickening child sex abuse pictures
huddersfieldexaminer
Roy Dean is known for his market stall in York (Image: City of York Council)
A well-known York market trader has been spared jail after being caught with sickening child abuse images.
Roy Dean, who is known for his business 'That Fudge Guy' in the Shambles Market, appeared before York Crown Court today, charged with three counts of making indecent images of children.
The 63-year-old of Huntington was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years.
He will have to register as a sex offender for 10 years, comply to a sex harm prevention order for 10 years and undertake 40 days of rehabilitation activities.
According to his website, the artisan confectioner has held various roles over the years including kitchen porter, barman and art teacher.
Man jailed after raping underage girl in armed drug dealer's Huddersfield flat
..
He was one of a number of men who sexually abused the girl
huddersfieldexaminer
A seventh man has been jailed for raping an underage girl in Huddersfield.
The 37-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, raped the girl in an armed drug dealer's flat between 2005 and 2007.
He went on trial last month alongside six other men in relation to the sexual exploitation of two girls between 1995 and 2007.
Opening the trial, prosecutor Kate Batty had told jurors at Leeds Crown Court: "It was a flat that she went to more than once and in which she had sex more than once.
"[The owner of the flat] was in his forties, he was involved in drugs and he had a gun which [the victim] saw.
"This gives you an idea of the environment that [the girl] was living in and, perhaps, an idea of why she felt compelled to comply - spending time in older men's flats and other men having sex with her.
"This defendant was one of those men who did exactly that."
Is there any doubt that this man and the others were Pakistani Muslems?
Sir Ron Brierley likely to face prison over child sex abuse material
- forensic psychologist
02/04/2021
RNZ
Sir Ron Brierley plead guilty to three charges of possessing child sex abuse material. Photo credit: Getty Images
A forensic psychologist who has worked with some of Australia's worst sex offenders says Sir Ron Brierley is likely to be sentenced to prison.
The 83-year-old businessman on Thursday pleaded guilty in a Sydney court to three charges of possessing child sex abuse material.
Forensic Scientist Ian Coyle said Sir Ron's crime was at the serious end of the scale.
"The mere fact that it's non-contact offending does not detract from the gravity of the offending," Coyle said.
"Those who are purchasers of child pornography actively assist in the pornographic offending of those who take the images.
"There's no getting around that - it's not a victimless crime."
Moves are now underway to strip Sir Ron Brierley of his knighthood.
A spokesperson for Jacinda Ardern said the Prime Minister (of New Zeland) had asked for the forfeiture process to be initiated.
Brierley will have 30 days to respond, but after that the Prime Minister can write to the Queen asking her to cancel his appointment to the Order of the British Empire and he would be asked to return his insignia.
Coyle said people who viewed child pornography were twice as likely as sex offenders to reoffend.
Cricket Wellington is reviewing Sir Ron's lifetime membership, saying it had not received donations from him since October 2017.
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